The UF performing arts director is leaving after 15 years growing Gainesville’s art community.
Michael Blachly announced last week his retirement, which he will begin Sept. 1. He came to UF in 2000 after working as the director for University of California, Los Angeles Performing Arts for 14 years.
A search firm will be hired to find his successor. Although he will have no role in choosing the next director, he said he feels the program will continue to advance.
Blachly said he was hired to grow and develop the program. During the last 15 years, he added three new performance spaces: the Baughman Center, the University Auditorium and the Squitieri Studio Theatre inside the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
“What we have accomplished will provide a solid foundation that will become a spring-board for the future,” he said.
Blachly said he came with plans to diversify the program.
“I wanted to incorporate a more international presence,” he said. “I wanted to commission and create new work for furthering the art forms of music, dance and theater.”
He accomplished his plans to create an international program at UF, which includes established artists from around the world in classical music, jazz, dance, theater, contemporary arts and singing and songwriting.
“It continues to be a wonderful community in which to present a broad range of performing artists,” he said.
Blachly said he thanks Student Government for its role in the growth of the the program by making concerts and plays accessible and affordable to students.
UF student Veronica Mingrone considers Blachly a mentor.
She worked as his intern for three years on various projects and managed the art program’s funding with SG. Although she will miss him, Mingrone said she’s happy for him.
“Working for Michael has been the best experience I could have asked for,” the 20-year-old public relations junior said. “I’ve never met anybody so willing to help and willing to work with you. He’s definitely leaving, but he won’t be replaced.”
Blachly said he doesn’t know where retirement will take him. He is sure, however, that he will remain an active member of the arts community.
“I feel we have accomplished a great deal,” he said. “I feel the program is ready to keep growing.”
[A version of this story ran on page 9 on 2/9/2015 under the headline “UF performing arts director retires"]
