MADISON, Wis. -- In the midst of tough economic times, the Overture Center for the Arts has hired a consultant to help it decide how it can run more effectively and efficiently in the future.

Since the grand opening in 2004, the Overture Center that philanthropist Jerry Frautschi built has had highs and lows, including the forced liquidation of the Overture's so-called "trust fund" as the economy collapsed and a still unresolved bank loan debt totaling $28 million.

"That's another issue we're wrestling with," says Linda Baldwin, chair of the Madison Cultural Arts District Board. "And we anticipate taking a proposal to the financial institutions within the next six months or so."

In the meantime, the board that oversees the Overture Center is working on reshaping how it is managed.

On Tuesday, the first part of a $75,000 consultant's study into various public and/or private models of operation was presented to the MCAD Board. Overture publicist Rob Chappell said that the private 201 State Foundation, the Overture's fundraising arm, paid for the study -- not taxpayer dollars.

Five years after the $210 million center opened, some said change is definitely needed.

"I think we have a confusing model for the public with all the different entities that are involved. I think there needs to be simplification," said Deirdre Garton, chair of 201 State Foundation.

Right now, four main groups are involved with Overture.

The private nonprofit Overture Development Corporation owns the building, while the Madison Cultural Arts District Board, filled by appointed positions, runs it and the city of Madison employs most of its staff.

The private 201 State Foundation is the Overture's fundraising arm.

And it's those community fundraising efforts the board is most concerned about, and any change in management structure will likely reflect that, WISC-TV reported.

"So we're going to build community support for the Overture Center and that I think will drive the model choices we come up with," Baldwin said.

AMS Planning and Research, the consultant doing the study, said private-public or totally private arts centers have the greatest fundraising opportunities.

The consultant also said Overture was about average when compared to six other similar arts facilities in the U.S.

However, the consultant said the facility fell below average in a number of areas including marketing, fundraising and ticket prices and higher than average in cleaning/maintenance costs.