Eau Claire, Wisconsin is full of unique and unusual meeting spaces. On Sept. 22, another venue will be added to the list with the official opening of the long-awaited Pablo Center at the Confluence, the city’s new arts center.

In addition to hosting performing arts and providing rehearsal, teaching and support space for the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire’s university's theater and music program, the venue will be available to rent for meetings and events.

"In the last five years Eau Claire has really been making a name for itself as a meeting destination for those seeking the unique,” said Linda John, executive director of Visit Eau Claire.

She added, “Unexpected meeting venues range from art collectives to community kitchens. You can’t help but be inspired by the creative energy here – we’ve been compared to Portland and Austin and Brooklyn – and the beautiful natural resources that hug the downtown.”

The new arts center offers a 1,200 seats theatre and a smaller, flexible 400-seat theatre. Multipurpose spaces on the third floor offer views of the Chippewa River and the iconic Phoenix Park Bridge. These rooms are fully equipped with screens, projectors and state-of-the-art sound systems.

"The Pablo Center’s central location in downtown Eau Claire, impressive architecture and spectacular views to the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers makes it an easy choice for corporate event planners on so many levels,” John said.

“There are one-of-a-kind spaces for breakout sessions and large theaters with flexible seating for general sessions, to say nothing of the impressive schedule of performances and art exhibits for meeting-goers to enjoy. Plus the much-acclaimed Lismore Hotel is just one block away,” she added.

In addition to the performing arts spaces, Pablo Center contains art galleries featuring regional and national visual arts displays across a variety of media. The galleries are free and open to the public.

A grand opening ceremony will be held on Sept. 22, with a free open house that runs from noon until 5:30 p.m., followed by a ticketed performance at 7:30 p.m. The Grand Opening Celebration: Cabinet of Curiosities will include the premiere of Pablo Center-commissioned work by designer/sculptor/puppeteer Chris M. Green and musical performances by the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra and the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra.

Visit Eau Claire will provide a sneak peek of its new interactive visitor center, which John describes as a “visitor center of the future”. The new location, on the first floor of the Pablo Center, will open on Oct. 26.

 “We’re calling it an ‘experience center’ because we’ll have performances, cooking demos and meet-the-maker events to give people a taste of what this destination has to offer,” John said. “Imagine hosting your welcome reception, registration breakfast or recognition party right here and we’ll bring the city to you.

For more information on the Pablo Center at the Confluence, go here.

Main image credit: VisitEauClaire.com 

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