Officials narrow list of candidates to manage Music Hall
COHOES, N.Y. » The original field of six proposals to manage the Cohoes Music Hall has been narrowed to three.
The independent review committee tasked by Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler with reviewing the proposals has announced that the process is moving to the final phase, interviewing the three finalists.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cohoes Music Hall has been closed since March, leading Keeler to the decision in April to cancel the current contracts, which carry a net cost to the taxpayers in excess of $200,000.00 per year.
Immediately following the cancellation of those contracts, in keeping with his commitment to the arts and their role in the burgeoning downtown business community, Keeler issued a Request for Proposals to manage the Music Hall.
Officials said proposals are rated on:
• How the respondent’s plan fits with the city’s mission to bring arts and commerce to downtown;
• How the plan contributes to the greater Cohoes arts community;
• How the proposed activities at the Music Hall would be integrated with programming for local youth and schools;
• The creativity, innovation, uniqueness or interest of the proposal;
• The depth of experience of the respondents; and
• The anticipated direct financial impact of the proposal on the City of Cohoes.
“All six proposals would have continued the long tradition of quality programming at the Cohoes Music Hall, while saving the taxpayers in excess of a $200,000 annually,” Keeler explained.
“Whichever of these finalists is chosen, there will be two big winners; the arts community and the taxpayer,” Keeler added.
According to city officials, Cohoes taxpayers shouldered a net cost for management and show support of the Cohoes Music Hall in excess of a quarter of a million dollars in 2019. None of the finalists’ proposals require taxpayer-funded facility management fees.
The three finalists to be interviewed by the advisory panel together with Keeler, administration officials, and Council President Bill McCarthy include Guthrie Bell Productions, Music Hall Arts Alliance, and Park Playhouse. Interviews will take place on Thursday, July 16 and the mayor is expected to present the chosen proposal to the public and to the Common Council for approval during the month of July.