Civic Hall Associates
Mission and Purpose
Civic Hall Associates (CHA) is a not-for-profit corporation that supports Richmond Community Schools in the renovation and operation of Civic Hall, a performing arts center, which serves the greater Richmond community and adjoining areas of eastern Indiana and western Ohio. The project was accomplished by the formation of a unique partnership of RCS and CHA. CHA was originated to raise the community (corporate and individual) funds to renovate Civic Hall. Since the Hall’s opening in 1993, CHA has added to its responsibilities the roles of advising RCS on how to operate the facility and partnering with RCS to present the Proudly Presenting Series – a series of professional performing arts events.
Civic Hall Associates assists Richmond Community Schools in setting policies, providing management oversight, addressing user concerns, and maintaining the community perspective for the usage of the facility.
Education
Civic Hall serves both RCS and the region of east central Indiana and west central Ohio as a performance venue. Housed within Civic Hall are three classrooms that are used daily for band, choir, and orchestra classes. Additionally, many after-school extra-curricular activities take place in the facility. Approximately 150 programs and rehearsals take place in the auditorium annually. Over half of these are school-related programs. Civic Hall Associates is a catalyst for presenting performing arts in cooperation with Richmond Community Schools. This cooperative of presenting serves to enhance but not compete with the offerings of existing performing arts organizations in the area. Educational objectives are a priority in the arts presenting and serve to enhance the school curriculum and promote participation in the performing arts.
MORE
Before and/or after every Proudly Presenting Series program in Civic Hall, our featured artists are invited to present an outreach activity for our community youth and adults. The 30 minute educational activity ranges from an Artist or director talking with students and adults, to the entire cast being involved in the educational activity. Special emphasis is placed on the opportunity for students who would not have an opportunity to attend a concert or talk with professional performers.
During the Proudly Presenting Series, elementary student performances are also presented during the season. Elementary school performances for kindergarten through 3rd grade and 4th through 6th grade have been presented to surrounding community schools with over 4,000 students attending each year.
Another component of the educational activities is the opportunity our patrons have to attend special pre-show discussions with the Artists. During the season, our patrons will be invited to a pre-show discussion with a director or Artist. These events have been very successful and informative to our attending audiences.
To see some of our past programs, click on the links below:
Capitol Steps 
November 6, 2010
Two cast members from ‘Capitol Steps’ met with students and instructors from Richmond High School’s U. S. History classes following the evening performance in Civic Hall for an educational ‘question and answer’ session.
Larry Gatlin & Gatlin Brothers’ Christmas
December 11, 2010
Following the first performance, Larry Gatlin spoke with students and instructors from Richmond Community School’s Mentoring group and with students from Richmond High School’s Life Skills class.
Dallas Brass
May 21, 2011
The Dallas Brass conducted a brass ensemble workshop for students in the band department of Richmond High School. Later in the afternoon the full RHS band rehearsed with the Dallas Brass on stage in preparation to performing later that evening during the concert. After intermission that evening, sixty members of the RHS band performed with the Dallas Brass followed by a standing ovation from the audience.
Board Members
The Board of School Trustees is the governing body of RCS. They meet twice monthly. The Civic Hall Associates Board of Directors oversees CHA activities and meets monthly.
nikipaula@aol.com
Executive Director WCTV
ermarsh@iue.edu
Retired
jlhib3585@gmail.com
Ms. Linden Dennis
pldennis1528@gmail.com
Ms. Jenie Lahmann
President
Morrisson-Reeves Library
lahmann@mrlinfo.org
Western Wayne News
millicentmartinemery@gmail.com
Mr. Tom Milligan
Retired
Founding Board Member Emeritus
tsmilligan@frontier.com
Chief Financial Officer
Richmond Community Schools
kscalf@rcs.k12.in.us
Indiana University East
Retired
dkldesan@nltc.net
Indiana University East
tiscales@indiana.edu
Richmond Community Schools
Retired
dannorris1556@gmail.com
