Local and Industry News
J. Ricky Arriola, chair of the board of the Arsht Center, has been appointed to the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. The Committee, established in 1982, works with organizations, including the NEA and the NEH, to encourage partnerships on cultural projects.Palm Beach Atlantic University has purchased Ballet Florida's home for $1.85 million. Ballet Florida announced in July that it will be going out of business. The University will use the space to house its theater department.
The Henry Mancini Institute, based at UCLA from 1997 through 2006, has relocated to the University of Miami. The Institute, previously a summer institute, will become a part of the Frost School of Music curriculum.
A study by the Foundation Center predicts that foundation giving to nonprofits will decline by 10 percent in 2009, and will likely decline even more in 2010.
David A. Straz has made what is said to be the largest individual gift to a Tampa Bay area cultural institution. The amount of the donation to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center is undisclosed, but is in excess of $5 million, and is said to be as high as $25 million.
Recording
The AFM has reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers covering work on motion pictures and TV films. The agreement would run through February 2013, and eligible musicians will receive ratification packages soon.
Symphony
The Palm Beach Opera Orchestra welcomes two new members. As a result of auditions that took place in November, violinist Pepina dell'Olio and cellist Susannah Kelly will be joining the orchestra.
Colorado Public Radio will hold a three-day fund-raising drive for the Colorado Symphony. The drive will include broadcast of a live performance of the orchestra, featuring cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Musicians of the orchestra recently agreed to a 12.5 percent paycut, a suspension of pension contributions, and up to four weeks of unpaid furlough.
Musicians of the Sarasota Orchestra were forced to cancel a free benefit concert due to threatened legal action by their management. The Sarasota Orchestra claims that the free concert violates the musicians' non-compete clause. Instead of performing the concert, musicians instead used the time to talk to patrons about the ongoing negotiations.
The New Mexico Symphony has canceled concerts after musicians rejected the latest contract proposal. Musicians have been working since August 31 without a contract. Management is requesting a 16 percent pay cut but refuses the musicians' requests of transparency in fund-raising and the creation of an audience association to support fund-raising efforts.
Miami Beach residents voted overwhelmingly to require a citywide vote before granting any waivers of parking requirements to the New World Symphony.
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