Courtesy photo.
OXNARD — The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) announces that a critical agenda item concerning the future of the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center (PACC) will be presented before the Oxnard City Council on February 18, 2025. This meeting will serve as a pivotal moment for the community, stakeholders, and supporters of OPAC as the City deliberates the future management of the venue.
As of March 1, 2020 the current operator for both the Auditorium and the Community Center is Sterling Venue Ventures (SVV), more widely known as The Canyon. Their two agreements – one for each side of the complex – are set to expire or be rolled over on March 1, 2025. OPAC has formally requested – and will request again on February 18, 2025 – its own agreement with the City to operate the Community Rooms / Center, which includes two ballrooms, five classrooms and several outdoor courtyards.
As the nonprofit arm of the Center for the last 26 years, OPAC remains committed to its mission of fostering and serving our community through inclusive programming, cultural and artistic exchange, and developing people-centered spaces. The City’s budget cuts in 2019 shifted the management structure of the PACC to SVV, placing OPAC in a subordinate role. Despite a poorly written agreement between the parties and the devastating impacts of COVID on the performing arts, OPAC has continued to innovate and excel, fostering a beautiful and welcoming venue for special events, artistic expression, education, and community engagement. The upcoming City Council discussion will shape the path forward for one of Ventura County’s most significant and historic cultural anchors.
Having its own agreement with the City to operate the Community Center ensures that OPAC has a more stable and effective partnership. Under this proposal, OPAC has offered to increase the revenue it currently provides to the City, demonstrating its commitment to sustaining and growing the facility’s impact. Notable nonprofit successes in the last five years include:
Exceeding revenue targets for the City. With an initial annual target of $90,000 in rent, OPAC has outperformed year after year: FY 22-23 brought in $102,160, FY 23-24 reached $177,726, and the current fiscal year (July 2024–January 2025) has already generated $114,976.75.
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Diversified its revenue streams to ensure sustainability and ample reserves. Grant procurement alone has generated $2 million that has been re-invested in the local community.
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Offering new programs including: Children’s Art, Teen Art, Family Art Night, Arts-in-Schools, Gallery at the Mexican Consulate, and Public Art Initiatives
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Created Creative Career Pathways and Workforce Experience Programs through partnerships with Goodwill, CSU CI’s Center for Community Engagement, and Integration Work and the development of signature programs for teens and Transitional Age Youth like Audio Engineering and DJing.
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Launching new festivals including: AAPI, Native Plant Fest, IchigoCon: Anime + Smash, Chelita: Art, Music & Miches, in addition to Dia de los Muertos
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Establishing an endowment to support OPAC’s youth art programs
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Supporting important social impact initiatives such as COVID safety, Census, Environmental Sustainability, and Mental Health via creative methodologies
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Investing in critical amenity upgrades including new lighting, sound, chairs, drapes, paint, monitors, landscaping, and more, which has tremendous value to facility patrons and rental clients, many of whom celebrate their most beloved milestones at the Center – from baby showers and graduations to quinceaneras and weddings!
This move comes as OPAC has faced challenges under the current agreement with Sterling Venue Ventures (SVV), which was originally intended to operate the community rooms “in coordination” with the nonprofit but has not been carried out as envisioned. These ongoing difficulties have highlighted the need for a direct and clear operational structure that better serves the community.
“A well-structured and equitable agreement is essential to ensure that the Community Center remains a thriving hub that enriches the lives of Oxnard residents,” remarks OPAC Board Chair, Gary Davis. “As an organization, we have big plans to advance the creative economy, expand our arts programming for all ages, beautify the city through public art, and meet the needs of our local artists, but in order to do this, we need a good agreement.”
About OPAC:
Established in 1998, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and the nonprofit arm of the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center. OPAC provides cultural and community programming by supporting, producing and presenting theater, dance, music, media/visual arts, residencies, and outside-the-box programs that are of, by and for Oxnard. TheOPAC.org