Eau Claire’s Confluence Performing Arts Center Names First Executive Director

A leader has been picked to head up a $45 million performing arts center under construction in downtown Eau Claire. The new executive director is credited with helping grow an arts and entertainment district in Fond du Lac.

Kevin Miller, a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire alum, has been picked to oversee the public-private arts partnership known as the Confluence Project. Miller comes from Fond du Lac, where he oversaw a multi-million dollar expansion of the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts.

Even before construction began on the Confluence, the project spurred new business growth in Eau Claire’s downtown. Miller said he only expects that investment to grow after the arts center opens September 2018.

“The exciting thing about this whole project is, what’s next? Who’s coming to town that we might not know about?” Miller said. “Developing Eau Claire just got a whole lot easier.”

Vicki Hoehn is the Confluence Council board president and helped select Miller. She said she looks forward to the leadership Miller will bring.

“I really am looking forward to where we’re going to take it next. This is just another milestone, getting our staff starting to get hired, start putting that schedule together,” Hoehn said. “I think it’s exciting to see what we’re going to bring.”

Miller said the biggest challenge facing the Confluence Performing Arts Center is fundraising. While enough money has been raised to finish construction, he said continued support will be needed to provide high quality programming.

The Confluence has been in development for more than five years. City leaders credit the project for spurring a wave of downtown business development.