Collaborative efforts and unique management techniques converge to form the multifunctional Idea Center at Playhouse Square.
Art J. Falco and Jerrold F. Wareham worked together to form the Idea Center, which meets the needs of both Playhouse Square Foundation, of which Falco has been president and CEO for 14 years, and WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 ideastream, of which Wareham has been president and CEO for 12 years.
Playhouse Square Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that restored and now operates Playhouse Square Center, the nation’s second-largest performing arts center. The foundation strives to provide high-quality performing arts and entertainment programs and quality educational programs to the Northeast Ohio community.
Falco uses a unique management approach to propel Playhouse Square Center. He hires the best people for each area and allows them to run that area as they see fit in working toward the goals of Playhouse Square. The result is that Playhouse Square Center has become an economic power for the Theater District and downtown Cleveland.
WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN merged in 2001, forming ideastream, a multimedia public service that aims to provide thought-provoking programs and services to enlighten, inspire, educate and entertain its listeners and viewers. Wareham uses ideastream to connect people who want to learn with those who have knowledge to share.
He also strives for quality, creativity and diversity in the stations’ programming. Ideastream reaches about 2.8 million viewers and listeners through its public radio and television stations.
Falco and Wareham worked together to create the Idea Center to provide additional programming to meet the needs of viewers and listeners for WVIZ/PBS and 90.3. It also meets the needs of Playhouse Square Foundation by providing broadcast capabilities to allow its programming to reach more people.
By working together to form the center under one roof, Falco and Wareham were able to save $7 million and provide a model of how organizations can work together to strengthen the community and themselves.
HOW TO REACH: Playhouse Square Foundation, (216) 348-5258 or www.playhousesquare.com; WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream, (216) 398-2800 or www.wviz.org
