The Tangipahoa Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau recently donated another $100,000 to the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts.
“Tangi Tourism believes the Columbia Theatre enhances the arts and quality of life in Tangipahoa Parish.
“Both are very important aspects in attracting visitors to this area,” said Carla Tate, executive director of Tangipahoa Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Roy Blackwood, director of the Columbia Theatre agrees.
“There is the perception, and I believe the reality, of the interrelatedness of the success of the theatre and the success of the area,” he said. “We support their mission and through their gift, they support our mission.”
Blackwood recently showed the Tangipahoa board of directors how their donation had gone to use.
“In November, I hosted their board of directors for a lunch meeting here at the theatre because I wanted to show them what we had done with the money they had given us in the past year and bring them up to date about the other kinds of things we are doing that are either totally or in part funded by their gift,” said Blackwood.
One of the first things the Columbia did was purchase a high quality digital projector. This projector is being used to show films for their spring cinema series.
“We showed them an excerpt and they were blown away with the quality. It was just really incredible,” said Blackwood. “Mr. Buddy, the board president, went on and on about how much they appreciated all the new initiatives and how hard we were working here to try to broaden our footprint, to attract people into the theatre.”
Blackwood said the Tangi CVB strongly felt the money they previously donated had been “very well invested” and wished to provide the Columbia Theatre with additional support.
The donation helps to expand the budget so Columbia Theatre will be able to bring in more main stage and live performances, the most expensive component of their professional services. One example of this was when Koresh Dance Company from Philadelphia performed at the Columbia.
Some of the money has also been used for advertising, hosting Chamber of Commerce Events and building a more visible profile. The goal of Columbia Theatre is to appeal to a broader audience by expanding the range of entertainment.  According to Blackwood, the gifts from Tangi CVB are critical to the operation of the Columbia.
“We may do some opera eventually. We may do some hip-hop. You just never know and that’s why the new website is so important to us, to our mission, because we work very quickly and react quickly to what the public would like to see,” said Blackwood. “I’m working on booking right now for the whole 2014-2015 season.”
The amount of $100,000 was decided on by Tangi CVB’s Board of Directors following multiple discussions with Blackwood. The money was collected from a four percent tax on hotels, bed and breakfast locations and campgrounds located in Tangipahoa Parish.
“Tangi Tourism highly supports the Columbia, but this is a decision that our Board of Directors will address on an annual basis based on our budget,” said Tate regarding possible monetary donations to the Columbia Theatre in future years.
Those interested in any of the activities offered by the Columbia Theatre are encouraged to visit their website, columbiatheatre.org. For more information on the Tangipahoa Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau, visit tangi-cvb.org.