Craig Sumberg started in September as the new executive director of the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) — the same week that Hurricane Ida came through town and left Hamilton Stage under water. In this episode, I sit down for a conversation with Sumberg in his office about his first few months on the job. Among our topics:

• The outlook for Hamilton Stage and the financial impact of it closing [3:01];

• Early fundraising efforts and his plans for the center [4:22], how that will drive better programming [9:25] and what donors can do [25:02];

• Where he sees UCPAC fit among other arts facilities in the area [6:42] and hiring a talent buyer to secure shows [7:27];

• The biggest challenges for UCPAC going forward [20:47]; and,

• Is there such a thing as “Central Jersey” [25:25]?

“I believe we play an important role in the community both in Rahway and in Union County,” Sumberg said. “I want people who live within 30 miles of us to know that we’re here.”

Opened in 1928, the 1,334-seat UCPAC was acquired by Union Countyin 2006 for $1.3 million. The facility underwent a $6-million expansion and renovation in 2008.

“We’re going to have to find our niche. That’s going to take some poking around,” Sumberg said, including recently hiring a talent buyer, Stamford, Conn.-based Music Without Borders. “There’s room in New Jersey, though a very competitive market, for UCPAC to do more significant programming. And I very much believe that that fundraising dollars and memberships dollars will go hand in hand with better programming.”

To make a donation, click hereor visithttps://ucpac.org/donate/

Sumberg briefly served as executive director of the 15-year-old South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) last year before the pandemic forced layoffs at thefacility. He led the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation in downtown Tucson, Ariz., where he was credited with growing the budget from $600,000 to almost $5 million. Previously, he was senior vice president for resource development for the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona. He also was executive director of the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, a 900-seat arts and culture center in Washington, D.C.

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