DESIGN GUIDE: MUSIC AND DRAMA CENTERS
DG 1110.3.120
CHAPTER 2: ESTABLISHING PROGRAM GOALS
JANUARY 1981
tural life and varied experience of soldiers and
In order to achieve diversity while maintaining
their families. Polls typically reflect only com-
quality within budgetary limits, the facility must
mon experiences which may be limited. How-
be designed primarily for one use with other
ever, properly conducted surveys can provide
diversified activities subordinate to the primary
indicators of underlying interest and desire for
use. There are, of course, limits to how diversi-
varied choices. The Army Performing Arts Pro-
fied a facility may become without totally com-
gram can capitalize on this since commercial
promising the primary activity. This issue will be
profit is not a significant motive.
discussed more fully in Chapter 3, which dem-
onstrates that even among performing arts ac-
tivities, facility characteristics can be in conflict
Audience satisfaction promotes active partici-
where performance types are mixed.
pation. Participants in production activity (and
the MDC staff) need the reward of community
and leadership recognition, appreciation and
Program planners are advised to choose one
primary performance space use (music or drama)
support, and a sense of worthwhile accomplish-
to which the majority of supporting facilities are
ment in developing valuable skills. The com-
directed. Diversity is achieved by offering a va-
munity image of the facility will help establish
the effectiveness of program activities.
riety of opportunities for active participation.
Appropriate secondary activities can take place
In order to produce any type of performance a
if they are adapted to the facility.
great many non-performance skills are required
4. Active vs. Spectator Participation
(technical/administrative skills). A facility must
These aspects are inseparable. However, it will
be designed to encourage active participation
often become apparent that the budgeted facility
and development of requisite skills. Moreover,
will not contain sufficient space for the largest
the cost-effectiveness of each production season
desired audience capacity and necessary pro-
increases with the skill levels of participants and
duction facilities. The planners must resolve this
awareness of audiences. When soldiers are
dilemma in a manner which does not inhibit
transferred to a new installation, their skills and
technical production quality.
the desire to apply them travel. The abiding sup-
port of the community then encourages new-
The project initiators must take into account the
comers to excel.
existence of other permanent facilities on the in-
stallation or in the nearby civilian community
that have ample capacity for major productions,
or can make rehearsal and production support
2-4. SELECTING ACTIVITIES
space available for MDC use. These factors will
have bearing on the programming of a new fa-
cility. In the majority of instances the new facility
will have to serve all aspects of the primary per-
formance activity. The planning staff must be
Unless the using service has already devoted
ready to eliminate other secondary activities or
considerable time and effort to devising a long-
to determine which of these can be combined
range program development strategy that can
for economy.
now be analyzed in terms of this Guide, program
planners are advised to consider every potential
Significantly, the choice of primary performance
activity for inclusion in the MDC. Since this De-
type has direct bearing on optimum audience
sign Guide is concerned with securing adequate
capacity, but it should be recognized that this
facilities, it will tend to emphasize activities that
choice influences the proportion of allotted space
have special physical implications. However, the
available for secondary programming. Chapter
using service is first concerned with program
3 further develops this data.
values. The following sequence is recommended
procedure.
5. Popular Interest vs. Special Motivation
Great care should be exercised in utilizing gen-
First generate a list of as many activities as can
eral opinion polls to establish program empha-
possibly be undertaken by an installation Per-
sis. Similarly, it is a mistake to ignore community
forming Arts program. AR 28-1 and AR 28-8
needs in favor of known special interests like
serve as the basic source of eligible activities,
dinner theater and glee club. The Army Perform-
and a good many more will suggest themselves
ing Arts Program is aimed at enriching the cul-
2-6
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