Jazz music filtered softly through the hum of voices. People mulled about, their nametags referencing their names and positions. The smells of new wood, paint and carpet wafted through the air.

And something else permeated the air, unseen but present all the same—pride.

On Feb. 21, the new Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts officially became a part of Butler University’s campus.

The elegant event started with tours of the building with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails served in the Wood Family Foyer.

Tall ceilings towered over high tables set with candles in the foyer, dimmed lights flickering off the striking red paint.

The Board of Trustees, President Jim Danko, deans, faculty and many donors were in attendance.

Groups of people went up and down the identical staircases on either side of the auditorium entrances.

As the guests gathered to go inside the auditorium—the building’s focal point—excitement mounted and smiles appeared.

As they stepped across the threshold into the auditorium, that excitement wasn’t solely for what they saw but also for what they look forward to seeing from Butler students on that stage.

Conceptualization for this building started four years ago, but the idea for a mid-size arts studio has existed since the 1970s.

“We got to talking about this studio and began to realize the impact that it could have,” said Howard Schrott, the man for whom the building is named.

People began to see the use for the building, not only as a space for students but the Butler community as well.

The Schrott Center auditorium holds 450 people, a happy medium between the small Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall and the 2,200-seat Clowes Memorial Hall.

On Thursday, the auditorium had a massive feel to it with only the esteemed guests sitting in the audience.

The enormity grew as guests took in the long, red curtain hanging just behind the podium and the giant ribbon spread across the stage.

“Butler knew that its students needed another performance venue,” Danko said while opening the ceremony. “We wanted a space that would provide more performance options for our students as well as guest artists, lecturers and community groups.

“The Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts is that missing part for the Butler Arts complex.”

This ceremony wasn’t just for the limited number of people seated in the audience Thursday. It was also for the numerous audiences the Schrott Center will host and the students entertaining them.

“On this stage, dance students, theatre students and music students will all be able to practice and perform in ways that they hadn’t been able to do on our campus before,” said Dr. Kathryn Morris, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “This building is a powerful venue to engage in our mission in educating our students.”

After a speech from The Collegian’s Kevin Vogel, a Jordan College of the Arts junior, two large pairs of scissors were handed out. And as a community of people deeply involved in the creation of the Schrott Center watched, the ribbon was cut, and the center was dedicated.

Following the dedication, the audience joined those on stage for dinner.

The curtain rose to reveal candlelit tables placed in symmetry across the stage, which is the same size as Clowes’ stage. A jazz ensemble set the tone for dinner with its mellow notes and muted melodic phrases.

During dinner, the candles illuminated faces already alight with the glow of achievement.

The hope that generations of Butler students can use the center to hone their skills, showcase their hard work and perform their hearts out was the topic that led conversations during the four-course meal.

Even Thursday night’s icy storm could not dampen the spirits of the donors and guests.

Exiting the building after the event, the guests knew this night was only the beginning of what the Schrott Center will mean to Butler.

“I hope people will come in here, and they’ll be informed or entertained or enlightened,” Schrott said. “Maybe they’ll experience the arts in a different way or form a new appreciation for the arts. And if that sort of stuff starts to happen, then that will fulfill all my fantasies.”

Aside from a few perfomances in March, the Schrott Center’s grand public opening will be for the first annual Butler Arts Festival, which will be held April 18-28.

Butler University community members will see an increase in the number of ticketed art events next semester with the opening of the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Performing and Visual Arts, administrators within the Jordan College of Fine Arts said.

“We think,” JCFA Dean Ronald Caltabiano said, “that we will be able to charge some very reasonable fees to some of our largest events in Schrott to help us stay afloat.”

He stressed “we think,” as the discussions are still in the early stages.

Caltabiano could not provide a specific amount that might be considered a “reasonable fee” but was confident that the specifics would be worked out soon.

He also said there will be a student price—already the case with other Butler art events.

The change in ticketing will most impact the music department, as main-stage theater and dance productions already require paid admission.

Specifically, the change will affect large music ensembles like the Butler Symphony Orchestra, the Butler Wind Ensemble and the Lyric Theater.

Dan Bolin, chair of the music department, said charging for tickets to concerts is not new for JCFA. Both he and Caltabiano said previously it was just impractical.

With box office fees, explained Bolin, the music school was losing money by charging for tickets.

Bolin said it will be practical with the Schrott Center, which will not cost nearly as much to use as renting Clowes did.

Bolin estimated that a Butler Symphony Orchestra or Wind Ensemble concert costs $4,000 to $5,000 to produce in Clowes.

The Butler Ballet spent more than $51,000 on “Coppélia” last spring according to the dance office, and charged $14 to $28.50 per ticket.

Larry Attaway, chair of the dance department, said the ballet completely funds itself through its revenue. Ticket sales were around $16,500 for “Coppélia.”

Caltabiano said he thinks it is important that people put a value on art.

“Musicians don’t work for free in the real world,” he said. “We think that we need to clearly say that arts are valuable and worth paying for.”

Neither Caltabiano nor Bolin knows how the prices will affect attendance.

Caltabiano said that, in his experience, a professional ensemble that charges for admission sees higher attendance rates because people see it as valuable.

“The key is to keep it affordable for students,” he said. “There’s no doubt about that.”

If the result of the change is a larger audience, Bolin noted that the entire audience interested in the performance may not fit in the new Schrott Center, which will only seat around 450.

This may cause scheduling changes for the JCFA ensembles, such as an ensemble playing two-performance weekends. He said that this is commonplace among professional ensembles.

Robert Grechesky, director of the wind ensemble, explained that  because families already pay tens of thousands of dollars in tuition each year, it does not make sense to ask them to pay extra to see the productions.

Grechesky said that there must be ticket packages for families, and Caltabiano seemed open to the idea.

The Collegian will report updates as the discussions begin to take more solid form. For now, it seems that no one quite knows how the fees will ultimately affect art at Butler.

Published April 24, 2012

The joke in my family right now is that my sister is the smartest sibling, since she decided to enroll at a university in the Sunshine State, whereas I choose one in the Hoosier State.

Although I envy her and the view she will have of the Atlantic Ocean, I am saddened that she will not have the incredible and unique Butler University experience I had.
These upcoming four years at Butler would truly have been enjoyable for her.

Nevertheless, the past four years have provided me with many memories and life lessons, and I am very excited to see Butler progress.

The changes proposed or those that are already in the process of completion are much needed and will positively transform the university.

The most visible changes that my sister would have experienced are, of course, the construction projects on campus.

The new performance arts complex, the Howard L. Schrott Center, will be a nice venue that I hope will bring in more highly sought speakers.

The proposed parking garage with retail space is also a project my sister would have experienced.

Also, she could have eaten in the renovated Atherton Union dining hall, and maybe even roomed in a modernized residence hall.

But construction projects are not the only changes that are occurring on campus.

The student population has changed over the years, and I think it is necessary for certain changes to take place involving the students.

I remain convinced that the student body should change the Student Government Association and transform the format into a student senate.

Great potential is present for creating a student senate as it would involve all aspects of student organizations on campus.

The student senate would be more efficient and involve student leaders that would be driven to create change on campus, not just attend to be eligible for a student organization grant.

A great amount of research and determined energy would be needed to execute the change effectively, but ultimately it would be a sustainable project serving the Butler student population for years to come.

A majority of our peer institutions already have this format.

Secondly, if my sister should choose to become involved with Greek life on campus, then I would have hoped that she  would involve herself in the much needed changes dealing with the alcohol-related hospitalizations on campus.

I believe that in the upcoming years students associated with Greek life should devote themselves to creating a bottom-up policy dealing with the risks associated with unaccountable drinking.

The debate is always going to be centered on a policy of beer and wine only.

Rather than a decision made by administrators, chapter presidents would benefit the campus more if they were to call a meeting and create their own policy recommendations to better serve the community.

This was attempted a few years ago, but the conversation ran out of momentum.

I hope that this upcoming year, Greek leaders will find it beneficial to create a public discussion on this topic once again.

Overall, I am excited for the changes occurring on campus, and even though my sister will not be attending Butler, I have already begun to convince my younger brother.