Stambaugh Auditorium to Manage the DeYor Under New Agreement

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – As part of a new cost-cutting agreement that was hastened by the pandemic. Stambaugh Auditorium will take over operations of the DeYor Performing Performing Arts Center.

The directors of the Henry H. Stambaugh Auditorium Association and the Youngstown Symphony Society approved the deal Monday under which Stambaugh will provide operational and management services to the DeYor. The services cover booking of events, operations, administrative, marketing, fundraising and bookkeeping.

“While this collaboration has been in development for quite some time, the financial impact of the COVID pandemic has increased the urgency of its implementation,” said Chris Jaskiewicz, vice president of the symphony society’s board of directors, in a statement.

The society’s administrative and facility staff have been furloughed at this time while a reorganization plan is developed. 

“While arts and culture has been especially hard-hit due to COVID-related cancellations and the ban on mass gatherings, we feel that by sharing services and reducing costs, both organizations will emerge stronger when the pandemic is over,” said Matt Pagac, chief executive and operating officer of Stambaugh Auditorium. 

The goal of the management agreement is to preserve and maximize the usage of the two performing arts venues, according to a joint statement.

A joint committee consisting of members of each of the boards, as well as key staff from both organizations, has been meeting for the past 18 months to establish a plan to share resources, reduce costs and increase efficiencies between the organizations.

The sharing of services began in June with Stambaugh Auditorium providing bookkeeping services for the Youngstown Symphony Society. 

“This partnership will help to create the best opportunity to overcome the current challenges and set both organizations on a path for long-term success as well as to ensure the future of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra,” said Jaskiewicz. “The YSS board of directors has every intention of ensuring that the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra will continue as a professional orchestra and will be here when the pandemic is over,” he added. 

The DeYor, in downtown Youngstown, includes the 2,303-seat Powers Auditorium, home of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the 600-seat Ford Family Recital Hall and Overture Restaurant.

Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave., has a capacity of 2,553. The building also has a banquet hall and the Christman Room.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.