Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center aquires BG OnStage

BOWLING GREEN Ky.-BG OnStage is a local theater for those wanting to enhance their skills in arts. An announcement at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center changed everything.

Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanan attended the announcement, along with SKYPAC president and CEO Tom Carto.

SKYPAC has acquired BG OnStage, and beginning January, the expansion will begin.

“We’ve been sitting on it for a little bit and it’s been really hard to keep the secret. I’m so glad that it’s been announced and that we can join this family and get a whole bunch of new programming up and going. Lots of new things for the community to enjoy,” said BG OnStage artistic and education director Elise Charny.

Previously, performances were held at Van Meter Hall at WKU. This addition means BG OnStage will have access to the SKYPAC stage, along with the Capitol Arts stage.

“Everything is going to expand. Of course, we’ll be in this amazing theater. We’ll be at the capitol with our school day performances where teachers and students can come from all over,” said BG OnStage founder and president Flora Templeton Stewart.

It’s being done in an effort to capitalize on the importance of art education and youth education outreach.

“I think it’s great. It’s great for the community, and I’m really excited about them advancing their teaching mission and doing classes and individual lessons a lot more,” said SKYPAC CEO and President Tom Carto.

It comes with the added benefit of attracting more theatergoers to the city of Bowling Green.

“It’s a very vibrant arts community. That’s what attracted me to it as well. It’s still growing and continues to grow. A vibrant arts city really brings in more economic development, and businesses look for that when they’re trying to land in a community,” Carto said.