Developers of The Arc, a new performing arts center coming to Long Island City, announced a new chief operating officer for the project on Tuesday evening.
Richard Pawelczyk, the former executive vice president of Webster Hall, has been brought on to the team of the music venue and concert hall.
“I’m thrilled to join the team as the The Arc is taking shape as a world-class concert venue that can accommodate not just live performances with unsurpassed acoustics, but also with state-of-the-art digital recording and streaming technology that will enable us to create unique experiences for fans — and the brands that want to reach them — in New York City [and] around the world. We’re already seeing a flood of initial interest among artists and sponsors because, with incredible design, location and technology, The Arc is poised to fill a void in both the New York music scene and in the industry as a whole,” Pawelczyk said.
As the COO, he will be responsible for overseeing the upcoming calendar of concerts, live events and performances as well as brand sponsorship programs, strategic media partnerships and business affairs.
Pawelczyk was with Webster Hall for nine years, from 2008 to 2017. During his time there, he and his team hosted major concert series with media partners like SiriusXM, Spotify, Univision and MTV and produced the first ticketed shows for talent like violinist Lindsey Stirling and rapper Wiz Khalifa.
John Belitsky is the founder and president of DMDNR, which is the organization behind The Arc’s development. He expressed his excitement to be working on the project with Pawelcyzk.
“During Rich’s tenure, Webster Hall became one of the leading concert venues of its size in the world. His unparalleled ability to attract the most relevant talent in music — both established artists and emerging talent — coupled with our attention to acoustical excellence — will make The Arc a world-class performance hall and incubator for talent, and create unforgettable experiences for fans,” Belitsky said.
The Arc was approved by Community Board 1 last month, and will be located in the Kaufman Arts District. When completed, the 20,000-square-foot concert hall and recording studio will feature state-of-the-art recording equipment and acoustics, a 24-hour cafe with the cuisine of over 600 local vendors and a sound stage. According to Belitsky, The Arc will be opened 24 hours a day to accommodate for musician’s varying schedules and creative processes. The venue will also be able to hold 2,000 people at maximum capacity.
Recently, the venue has been hosting small, invite-only performances and sessions with artists like LoveHoney, Madison McFerrin, Jackie Venson, Jon Fratelli (of the Fratellis), Oxymorrons and Mosie.
Construction of The Arc is set to be completed by early 2019.
