AFTER THE FAIR

by Ewen C. Dingwall

You remember the magic atmosphere of the Seattle World's Fair -- the excitement, the great joy of the people who visited it, the strong sense of proprietor­ship which our own citizens felt in the Fair. The conversion of that into something which will be a source of new and creative activities constantly through the years is at least as great a challenge as was the development of the Fair itself.

Yet the excitement of the Fair cannot be re­kindled without the most concerted effort by the people of this community to bring it about. Such an effort is under way.

Our new non-profit corporation, Century 21 Center, Inc., has been asked by the mayor and City Council to establish and develop a promotional organization to stimulate the permanent year-round use of the Center. Permanent operations have been developed in other cities — such as Dallas and Toronto — where somewhat similiar arrangements have gone on for many generations.

Our agreement with the city includes three major factors:

1. Century 21 Center, Inc., will offer promotional and management services to the City Government for which we will be paid a 15% fee from all income the city derives from the "theater complex." The limit on this revenue will be $50,000 the first year and will be re-negotiated at that time.

2. The contract also leases to us certain areas and buildings on the grounds, much like our lease during the Fair. For example, we will control the amusement section activities, but will be accountable to the city for operations.

3. We will have complete control of concessions, merchandising, and food programs on the grounds.

To summarize our 1963 plans, the Center will become a beehive of special events and activity. We are attempting to involve very deeply, a wide variety of Seattle organizations who could not, for one reason or another, be a direct part of the Fair. We are working to bring in volunteer activity in order to have deep penetration and participation by our own people.

We must continue to develop our capacity for regional leadership and continue to think, plan and program in terms which will keep alive and stimulate the world-wide interest which now exists in the great Pacific Northwest.