Hoskins
Hoskins
Debra Hoskins and the Eastern Kentucky University Center for the Arts have parted ways.
"I am resigning my position as Executive Director of the EKU Center for the Arts," Hoskins is quoted as stating in a release issued this morning by EKU. "I got this venue to a level of excellence and look forward to pursuing new and upcoming challenges in the same field,” the statement continued.
Hoskins and university officials are tight-lipped over the circumstances of her departure from the $108,000 position.
Hoskins was the Center’s second executive director since construction began on the $30 million performing arts facility in 2008. She succeeded Katherine Eckstrand who had been recruited from the Ohio Arts Council to head the center. Nine months before the 90,000 square foot facility was to open, Eckstrand, citing family health issues, resigned to return to Ohio.
Hoskins, who had left the Norton Center in Danville in 2010 after several decades with the Centre College facility, was hired in January of 2011 to succeed Eckstrand at EKU. The new 2,000 seat theater was scheduled to open its doors the following September, giving Hoskins an immediate booking challenge.
The center got off to a rocky start with an opening gala concert last September featuring Nick Clooney and the Owensboro Symphony. The event, marred by an almost one-hour delay, was first billed as invitation-only but was later opened to the public. Ticketing, scheduling and parking issues caused problems at ensuing events at the center and after a highly publicized effort to host the 2012 vice presidential debate, the facility lost the bid to Hoskins’ former employer, the Norton Center.
The 2011-12 season also included performances by Wynonna Judd, Chris Botti, the Munich Symphony, Garrison Keillor, Peter Frampton, Mannheim Steamroller, and Wynton Marsalis, along with productions of “Spamalot” and “Beauty and the Beast,” among others.
Hoskins departs with the center’s 2012-13 season yet to be fully announced. All other major performing arts facilities in central Kentucky have booked and announced their coming season.
The EKU statement said renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma has been booked for the 2012-13 schedule.
“The EKU Center for the Arts is now considered to be among the nation’s finest performing arts venues,” EKU President Doug Whitlock said. “I personally thank Debbie Hoskins for her instrumental role as the Center attracted outstanding performers throughout its inaugural season. EKU and I wish her our best as she begins the next exciting chapter of her career.”
Dr. Bob Rogow, dean of EKU’s College of Business & Technology, who just completed a term as chair of the EKU Center for the Arts Community Operations Board, said: “The Board extends its best wishes and appreciation to Ms. Hoskins. We look forward to a soon-to-be- announced second season that will build on our exciting inaugural season."