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Scottsdale Arts prepares to spark a revival

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Scottsdale Arts CEO Gerd Wuestemann felt an immense anxiety when the �irst cases of COVID-19 began appearing. He had only been CEO for over a year when cases began appearing and had big plans for 2020 and bigger plans to rebuild Scottsdale Arts. Instead, those plans had to be put on the back burner. He knew he had to do what was best for his employees. “I will never forget the day the WHO declared a pandemic because it was the day that I closed on a house in Scottsdale, which put a whole new meaning to signing my life away,” he said with a laugh. “Instead of celebrating my new home, I rushed to the of�ice to shut down the arts festival, which was slated to celebrate its 50th anniversary.” This was only the beginning of the devastation Wuestemann had to deal with in the early days of the pandemic. “The �irst moments of the pandemic were pretty devastating. We were looking forward to celebrating the longest standing arts festival in the country,” Wuestemann said. He then had to personally tell 200 vendors that the festival was canceled and encouraged them to get home as quickly as they could. With his top festival now shut down, Wuestemann knew he had to do two things. “First, we assessed our cash situation. Thankfully, we had right sized for a rainy day and realized we were going to be �ine for a while,” he said. He then had a moment of clairvoyance and knew he had to talk to his staff about the looming uncertainty that the virus posed. “We sat down with the entire staff, and I said to everybody that it may be 18 months until we come out of this and I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to last the distance,” he said. With the funds secured, Wuestemann worked on his second goal he set to achieve at the start of the pandemic – keeping his staff together. Though it was a gamble to not lay off a single employee, Wuestemann eventually saw the bene�its of keeping his staff employed. “Because we kept our staff together, we were able to have a fall season last year,” He said. “At the end of last summer, when the city received its CARES money from the Fed, we managed to work with the city and were given $1.5 million in CARES money to distribute to arts organizations in Scottsdale,” Wuestemann said. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act provided millions of dollars to a vast array of businesses, nonpro�its and arts groups to help weather the pandemic.

Wuestemann used this money to issue grants ranging from $10,000 to $150,000 to over 20 arts organizations across the city.

Scottsdale Arts was also fortunate enough to receive a grant from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust for $137,000, which Wuestemann plans to store away and eventually use for new stage equipment inside the Scottsdale Performing Arts Center.

“The money was trusted to us to use if we are struggling operationally. Luckily, we do not need to, so we are tucking them away to use for new equipment or better prepare our stages,” He said. “We’re also using the money for innovation funds which are funds to evolve a new audience.” He also plans to use it as something to dip into to grow and diversify the audiences within the complexes at the Scottsdale Civic Center. Wuestemann is extremely hopeful to enter a “new normal” beginning this fall and has several plans to woo audiences. “We think that we’re going to come to some sort of new normal this fall so we �igured let’s come out with our most diverse, engaging and fun season for everyone,” Wuestemann said. Scottsdale arts is already giving audiences a taste of what is to come with its summer season that includes big acts like Mavis Staples, Pablo Ziegler’s Chamber quartet and Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra in September and October. Backdropping the exciting late summer season will be some construction to allow Wuestemann’s vision of the Scottsdale Civic Center to take shape. “Ever since I started here three years ago, I’ve been working on a vision for this campus and how to grow the organization,” He said. “In the 70’s Scottsdale was known throughout the country as an arts hub, but we haven’t done much in this city in the last 25 years.” He plans to add to the site with two grand stages. “The stages will work as a sculptural element and shade pavilion when they’re not in use as a stage but we’re hoping that 80 times a year, we can be out there doing fantastic events on those stages,” he said. The main stage will be built on the east campus and will be able to entertain an audience of 2,000 people with rock n’ roll shows, dance recitals and live theater performances.

The second stage is a circular stage that will allow for shows to be performed in all directions. Inside the stage will be the preserved banyan trees that will offer a beautiful backdrop to the artists performing on the stage. Previous reporting by the Progress stated that there are plans to renovate the Scottsdale Performing Arts Center and the Museum Of Contemporary Art. There are also plans to enhance pedestrian access, add a children’s garden, an outdoor eating area and many other amenities. “Our role coming out of the pandemic is to bring people back together and to make our community feel good,” Wuestemann said.

Scottsdale Arts CEO Gerd Wuestemann had big plans for 2020 – and then the pandemic hit. But now, he’s ready to realize his vision of crfeating a more dynamic arts scene in Scottsdale. (Pablo Ro-

bles/Progress Staff Photographer) The Multi-purpose Park, which is the area north of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, will have a 360-degree stage. (City of Scottsdale)