New DIPAC sign unveiled on Island Park Drive

In the most visible sign yet that the proposed Daniel Island Performing Arts Center (DIPAC) will come to fruition, a crowd of supporters and dignitaries gathered on Friday, August 26 on a grassy field on Island Park Drive to celebrate the unveiling of a new display showcasing a rendering of the facility. The two-sided sign, donated by Johnston Signs, was erected in the location the DIPAC will be built, adjacent to the UBS building.

Speaking at the festivities were DIPAC Founder Mary Gould, Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, Berkeley County Supervisor Bill Peagler, and Barbara McLaughlin, Community Services Manager for the Daniel Island Property Owners Association.

“Tonight we are celebrating the first major financial goal of raising over $5 million to purchase the land and also begin construction on the land right behind us,” said Gould, addressing the crowd. “This is indeed cause for celebration!”

The landmark facility, to include a 400-seat proscenium theatre and a 99-seat blackbox theatre, will house Gould’s South of Broadway Theatre Company. In addition, it will showcase Broadway-caliber productions that would be eligible for Tony Awards.

“This fine facility and the variety of arts programming it will bring will be a most welcome addition for all of our residents and our visitors and will serve as a major event space for those who live, work and play here on Daniel Island,” added McLaughlin, speaking on behalf of the Daniel Island Company. “…Daniel Island is truly the epicenter geographically of the Charleston tri-county area and will be the perfect location for a regionally recognized performing arts center like DIPAC.”

The DIPAC facility is also set to achieve the coveted League of Resident Theaters (LORT) designation, making it the first of its kind in South Carolina, as well as the first performing arts center in Berkeley County.

“This is an opportunity for us as business people, as community leaders, as residents, to enhance your quality of life,” noted Peagler in his remarks. “…You heard me say several times the motto I coined when I first took office - Berkeley County is open for business and Berkeley County means business. But now, I think I’ll have to change that a bit…Berkeley County is open for business - and the arts!”

Mayor Tecklenburg commended Gould on her long-standing vision for the facility and her dedication to the cause.

“A community is not complete without the arts,” he said. “Spoleto Festival 40 years ago really set Charleston on a road that proved (that). It built a cultural arts community within our city that’s unlike any in the state of South Carolina and our quality of life just blossomed because of it….This facility will do that same thing for Daniel Island….When we have the arts in our lives, it enriches us, it enlightens us, it inspires us as citizens, in our personal life and our community life.”

Tecklenburg encouraged those gathered to support the project.

“I am proud to be a part of the effort….It’s going to take some serious work to raise the money to get there, but we’re gonna do it!”

Several weeks ago, Gould and the DIPAC Advisory Committee launched a $1 million accelerated fundraising campaign to fund some of the project’s design elements and also to hire a director of development. According to Gould, they have already raised about 20 percent of those dollars. Their next step is to approach high level investors to garner their support.

“They want to see how the community has invested in this product,” added Gould.

After the program, which included a champagne reception and jazz music inside the neighboring UBS building, Gould reflected on the success of the night.

“It’s very emotional,” she said.”…This is the stuff of which dreams are made.”

For additional information on DIPAC, visit www.danielislandpac.com.