Mission Statement
Mission Statement
The mission of the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts is to be a leader in presenting quality, live performing arts to Wickenburg and the surrounding communities and to augment the arts education of area K-12 students. We present artistically and culturally diverse music, dance and theatre to broaden and deepen the performance experiences of our patrons. We are committed to providing unique student performances, artist/student workshops and producing a summer arts camp for children to educate and inspire the next generation.
Vision Statement
The Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts will be a fully functioning arts center that encourages and nurtures artists to share their talent with our audiences; educates our rural community in all aspects of the performing arts; and ensures and celebrates the cultural vitality of our diverse region while preserving it for future generations.
Description
Enhancing Cultural Richness
The Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts is a state-of-the-art 600 seat theatre dedicated to enhancing the cultural richness of Wickenburg and all surrounding communities by presenting a variety of the finest performers.
Throughout our history, we have presented a variety of performances ranging from internationally acclaimed pianist Olga Kern to cowboy poet Baxter Black to the hilarious musical production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. We strive to present the highest quality art to our ever-expanding patron base.
Prior to the Webb Center' s inception, Wickenburg was underserved in terms of opportunities to attend a full range of culturally and artistically diverse performing arts events or opportunities to participate in performing arts residency activities for schools and community members. The Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts was established to fill this cultural void, developing and presenting performances of artistic and cultural diversity as well as offering artists-in-residence events.
Joint Effort
The Webb Center officially opened in December of 2000. It was constructed through a joint effort between the Wickenburg Unified School District and local arts supporters through the Wickenburg Foundation for the Performing Arts. In recognition of a generous contribution made by the Del E. Webb Foundation, the theatre was honored to assume the name Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts. The collaboration between the school district and the community raised money to complete and furnish the theatre; continuous funds raised through grants and donations have allowed the Webb Center to remain on the cutting edge with sound/lighting technology and to expand our performance capabilities.
The Webb Centerâ s inaugural season began in the fall of 2001. The bar was set high for such a new institution, with over 15,000 people attending over 55 separate performances. From the beginning, the Webb Center presented a thrilling combination of public performances, educational artist interactions for students and a wide array of local community programs.
Camp Imagination
In June 2003, the Webb Center began what would become one of itâ s most prized endeavors: Camp Imagination. The two week summer arts camp exposes 120 children (grades 1-12) to all of the arts genres (music, dance, theatre and visual arts) encouraging them to explore their creativity and stretch their imaginations. Classes vary from year to year due to the range of talented professionals and specialists brought in to teach, but have included dance, tumbling, drama, choral music, and stand-up comedy! Camp Imagination culminates with a public performance starring the campers either onstage as actors, singers and dancers or backstage as make-up artists and technical crew (the June 2005 production, The Best Little Theatre in Town, was performed before an audience of 500 family and friends). The long-term goal of camp is to build audiences, artists and arts supporters who are appreciative of the many facets of the arts.
Webb Center Awards
The Webb Center was honored by WESTMARC (a consortium of West Valley civic and business organizations that recognize outstanding contributions to the image, lifestyle and economic development of Western Maricopa County) in 2004 with the â Best of the West Awardâ in the category of â Arts, Entertainment and Sports Venue.â Previously, the Webb Center received the â Best of the West Awardâ in 2001 by WESTMARC for â Celebrating Cultural Awarenessâ . In addition, the Webb Centerâ s staff applied for and was granted a renewable award by the Arizona Community Foundation to introduce and coordinate all four arts genres into the curriculum of our schools with the assistance of two appointed District Arts Coordinators.
