STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK
Greg Phillips has been appointed interim executive director of the Argyros Performing Arts Center.
Philliips has more than 35 years experience with various arts organizations in management, programming, planning, financial analysis, marketing, PR, branding fundraising and board development. He’s been executive director of theatres, musical theatres and arts education and presenting organizations.
Additionally he has helped in the start-ups and openings of a number of performing arts organizations and venues.
“After extensive exploration of various alternatives and careful deliberation, we have concluded that Greg’s decades-long industry experience and particularly his deep involvement from the very beginning with the Argyros project make him uniquely qualified to guide the opening of this new performing arts venue,” said the center’s Chair Bill Lowe.
Phillips, who divides his time between Sun Valley, San Francisco and Portland, has served as executive director of Portland Center Stage, one of the 15 largest theater companies in America. The organization produces 455 performances and 300 additional events every year. During his tenure with the group, Phillips secured the largest-ever capital campaign contribution in the company’s 30-year history.
Other clients include the Berkeley Symphony, San Francisco Play House, Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Western Arts Alliance.
“Greg did a fabulous job leading the Center’s recruitment effort for a new CEO, noted John Gaeddert, who was board president for The Center during the search.
Phillips has worked with the Argyros project as a consultant through his organization CSTAR for more than two years, noted Tim Mott, vice chair of the Argyros Center for the Performing Arts board.
Mott said that Phillips understands what it takes to open and program a venue.
“He has earned the respect not only of all his colleagues in the field over many decades but also more recently of all the local arts organizations and players here,” Mott said.
Phillips is married to Marie-Noelle, who grew up skiing in the French Alps and loves to ski and hike with her husband in Sun Valley.
His ties to San Francisco and Portland will be a benefit when it comes to working with touring artists, managers and booking agents, said Mott.
The performing arts center is scheduled to open Nov. 23, 2018, across from the Limelight Hotel in Ketchum.
“I know it will not only be an exceptional, transformative gift to this community but a replication model for communities everywhere,” said Phillips.
SUN VALLEY OPERA CHIPS IN
The Sun Valley Opera has presented a $10,000 check for the Argyros Performing Arts Center as part of the center’s fundraising efforts.
The Sun Valley Opera is the leading performing arts nonprofit donating to the center, noted Argyros Board Member Tim Mott.
The opera is excited to have a new home base in which to present their concerts and events, said Edwin Outwater III, chairman and CEO of the Sun Valley opera. “
“We are thrilled about the major cultural improvement that the addition of the Argyros Center will bring to our community,” said Outwater III. “We intend to be a prominent and prolific presenter in the truly state-of-the-art venue.”