Arts Garage Gets Temporary Reprieve, But Required To Make Major Changes To Continue

Arts Garage received a temporary reprieve from eviction and extinction late Tuesday night from the Delray Beach City Commission, but its long-term existence depends on significant changes to satisfy commissioners’ accusations of financial mismanagement.

The commission begrudgingly agreed to give the nearly five-year-old multi-disciplinary venue a month-to-month lease for six months when its current lease expires March 15. But the extension is solely to give Arts Garage’s leaders a last chance to make permanent changes in everything from programming to accounting.

Going a step further, the commission informally agreed in principle to extend the lease 2 to 5 years if the venue’s board of directors and city leaders can hammer out requirements on a checklist ranging from an overhaul of the management structure to bringing minorities onto its governing board to quarterly progress reports on the changes.

The non-profit was in danger of losing its lease on the built-out first floor of the city-owned parking garage just east of Old School Square where it presents theater, concerts and art shows. Its current lease with the city was contingent on buying the space by March 15. But Arts Garage leaders say they have been unable to raise any money for a sale and they had decided not to pursue a purchase – a decision made so quietly that not everyone on the city commission knew about it even in the middle of their discussions Tuesday night.