THOUSAND OAKS : Panel Established to Run Cultural Center

The Thousand Oaks City Council has established a nine-member commission to run the 1,800-seat auditorium and 400-seat forum theater now under construction as part of the Civic Arts Plaza.

The independent board will be responsible for overseeing a myriad of issues, from programming and finances to publicity at the cultural center, which is scheduled to open with a monthlong celebration in October, 1994.

“There’s so much to do and little time to do it in,” said Executive Director Thomas Mitze, who formally assumed his post this week and attended his first City Council meeting Tuesday.

The new commission’s seven voting members will be appointed by the City Council. Each council member will nominate one commissioner, and the council as a whole will appoint two at-large commissioners. In addition, two non-voting members will sit on the board, one appointed by the Thousand Oaks Arts Commission and one by the city’s Alliance for the Arts.

Criteria for selection to the management board--formally called the Civic Auditorium and Forum Theater Performing Arts Commission--include: dedication to the success of the cultural center, fund-raising ability, understanding of finances and risk-taking, willingness to devote considerable time and energy, and ability to make tough decisions.

The city clerk’s office will have applications ready soon.

Once the commission members are appointed, the group may consider forming an Auxiliary or Friends of the Cultural Center organization to advise on policy issues and to help with fund raising, Mitze said.