MBA students present an operation plan for new Arts Center

 (Murray Journal) Professor Abbie Griffin from the University of Utah David Eccles' School of Business gave a group of her students an interesting assignment. For the past year, several of her MBA students have been working on an operational plan for the proposed Murray Performing Arts Center. The project is part of a requirement for the course.

On Feb. 18, five students from the class presented their research and operational business model to the Murray City Council and the mayor's office. They were graded on the presentation as well as the operation plan itself.

The group took financial comparisons from the Rose Wagner Theater in downtown Salt Lake City and the Covey Center for the Arts in Orem.

They identified the strengths of a possible arts center in Murray, the main one being it coincided with the renovation plans for a new downtown. Murray also has a lot of community support and volunteerism and Murray businesses seemed supportive as well. There is also a high demand for local performing arts groups in the area.

The main weaknesses were possible low availability of the center, as the estimated overall usage of the center by local groups was estimated to be only one-third of the time. The main challenges the group foresaw were securing funding for the construction of the theater, and finding groups outside of Murray to fill the open spaces.

On Sept. 1, the Murray Arts and Parks department will be requesting county funds for cultural facility grants.

Original Article