Milwaukee’s Alverno College will end its long-running Alverno Presents fine arts series at the end of its current season.
The program had been sponsored by the Catholic women’s college for 56 years, but is being ended to divert more of the school’s resources toward student financial aid, programming and services.
The Alverno Presents operating budget was about $500,000 annually.
Among the shows staged under the program were contemporary dance, world music, jazz and avant garde performances. Performers have included Judy Collins, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Barbara Cook, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Andrew Bird, Nick Sanborn (Sylvan Esso) and Christopher Porterfield (Field Report).The shows were organized by artistic director David Ravel for the past 13 years, and were performed at the Pitman Theatre.
Ravel’s accomplishments include founding annual world music festival Global Union, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2015.
Moving forward, some of Alverno Presents’ productions will continue to be staged by the Pabst Theater Group, under Ravel’s direction. Ravel and a part-time box office employee will end their employment with Alverno at the end of the season.
Alverno’s Society of Fine Arts, the predecessor to Alverno Presents, was started by Sr. Laura Lampe, SSSF, in 1960 and brought world renowned performers such as Jose Limon, Joshua Bell and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Milwaukee. It became the longest-running fine arts series in Milwaukee.
“The Pabst is really proud to continue the great work of Alverno Presents,” said Gary Witt, chief executive officer of the Pabst Theater Group. “We feel that the work that David and Alverno Presents have done has contributed greatly to our city and we are pleased now to nurture its ability to continue. The community will continue to enjoy Milwaukee artists’ interpretations of the ‘Uncovered’ series and, after a one-year hiatus, we will review the possible return of Global Union in 2017.”
“Alverno College passionately believes that a vibrant performing arts culture is vital to our community and to student life. Throughout our history, the arts have been and will continue to be an integral part of our mission,” said Mary Meehan, Ph.D., president of Alverno College. “We are saddened by the loss of Alverno Presents but incredibly proud of all that David and his team have accomplished.”
