Bullish on arts

Perhaps the forecasts on the potential of the Durham Performing Arts Center, which opened last November, were a little conservative. But that’s OK. At a time when the Triangle could use good news, here’s some: The DPAC had been expected to bring the city $100,000 in its first year, reflecting Durham’s share of revenue after expenses and paying the companies that run the place and book the acts. Instead, the figure is roughly $400,000.

Of course, perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise. Since its opening, the DPAC has brought in some spectacular talent. It’s hard to go wrong with the incomparable Bill Cosby. Or the crowned king of the blues, Mr. B.B. King. Magician David Copperfield can make the coldest cynic ask, "How did he do that?"

The DPAC is the latest in a series of pretty farsighted and fortuitous developments in Durham, some surprising and some not. "Bull Durham," a film that’s more than 20 years old now, made the Durham Bulls world famous and now their stadium is a downtown centerpiece. Bulls owner Jim Goodmon (he of Capitol Broadcasting) also did the impressive American Tobacco project. And the DPAC keeps charging on, with concerts coming up next week by Jackson Browne and the Steve Miller Band, and then "Phantom of the Opera" is en route (Nov. 26 to 29).

There’s nothing phantom about the arts center, though. It is, happily, very real. With the Progress Energy Center in downtown Raleigh and a refurbished Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill among other venues in the mix, the Triangle now has a gracious plenty of fine performance spaces. They play a big part in making this area special.