It’s an opera house

When the name of The Spokane Opera House was first changed to Inland Northwest Bank (INB) Center for the Performing Arts, I felt there was something not quite right. It seemed odd that it was not called The INB Opera House. When it was named First Interstate Center for the Arts, I figured out why it seemed wrong. It is not a center for the arts. Other facilities that bear the name “center” such as the Lincoln and Kennedy centers have multiple performances spaces. Those multiple spaces make those facilities “centers for the performing arts.” If FICA had multiple performance spaces and/or active art galleries it would be appropriate to call it a “Center for the Arts,” but it does not. It has a beautiful lobby with wonderful new art displayed, but that is not a gallery, and there are no other performance spaces.

I’m grateful First Interstate generously sponsors this facility; their name should be there, but it should be The First Interstate Opera House or something like that. Remember that buildings themselves are works of art, and imagine if someone acquired the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, and decided that since they owned it, they could change the name to the Mona Linda! Besides, the facility’s acronym, FICA, is also the acronym for The Federal Insurance Contributions Act. That’s weird.

We should respect the original intent of the name and accurately call this wonderful facility what it is: an Opera House.

Tom Armitage

Spokane