Symphonic Shorts
News & Announcements
Donations to charity dropped for the first time in a dozen years, reports the New York Times. Arts and cultural organizations took the biggest hit, with a 26.5% drop over the previous year. Some of the decline is attributable to large, one-time gifts the previous year, but donors are also contributing to fewer charities, focusing their dollars on the organizations that are most important to them.
However, half of the 18 local organizations participating in an Endowment Challenge Program are on track. To help build permanent endowment funds, the Challenge, a partnership of the Community Foundation of Broward and the Kresge Foundation, will give $1 for every $3 of endowment funds raised over a three year period ending December 2004. The Gold Coast Jazz Society is one of the organizations on track to meet the goal.
FPO Library May Remain in Florida
A bid for the music library of the Florida Philharmonic, currently in bankruptcy proceedings, has been made by the Dade Community Foundation. The Miami-based foundation would store the library for up to five years in hopes that a new orchestra will be formed to take possession of it.
Boston Symphony Programs Attract Younger Audiences
The Boston Symphony has developed two programs to build audiences in the 20-40 age group. The College Card program allows college students to buy a pass for $25 that allows them to attend up to 27 specified concerts and open rehearsals throughout the season. College Card is promoted through student orientations, in college newspapers, and on college radio stations. About 1000 students participate in the program each year, and MIT even buys the card for students in its arts programs. The Repartee Subscription Series is a 3-4 concert series with pre-concert cocktail parties and informal talks by musicians, conductors, and guest artists. The program creates a social component like a club to encourage regular attendance.
Jacksonville Symphony Pares Budget
Faced with a $2 million debt, the Jacksonville Symphony is trimming back expenses while preserving its musical product. They have cut staff and now handle their own marketing, computer, and telemarketing services. They have also pared lavish productions and expensive guest artists.
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