BYU NewsNet - Utah arts look to community’s support to stay afloat

Theaters and arts organizations in Utah are feeling the effects of the weakened economy, but most are keeping up their profits by tightening budgets and garnering support from the public through ticket sales and donations.

According to a December 2008 study by the National Endowment for the Arts, the number of nonprofit theaters in the U.S. has doubled in the past 15 years and these theaters may face financial difficulties in today’s economy.

In an Associated Press article, Bill O’Brien, the theater program director for the NEA, said the public needs to help keep these theaters afloat.

“We need to convince people that the experiences people have when they come into our theaters are tremendously valuable because people are going to have to cut back on something, and we want to prove to them that it shouldn’t be us,” O’Brien said.

Theaters, orchestras and dance companies from Utah Valley to Salt Lake City reported they have been feeling pressure from the economy in recent years, but the Hale Centre Theatre in West Valley City has been able to keep its profits up.

A contributing factor to the theater’s continued success is public support.

“We actually have sold more season tickets this year than any other years past,” said Heather Barnum, public relations representative for the theater. “We feel that people may be wishing to stay in town more for their entertainment and they’re turning to affordable entertainment like Hale Centre Theatre as a vacationing option.”

Revenues for the Hale Centre Theatre have increased from $4.7 million in 2005 to $5.6 million in 2007, aided by this support.

Barnum said even though money may be an issue for many people right now, meaningful entertainment is still important.

“I think that affordable entertainment is always going to be a draw,” she said. “We can’t just work 24/7. We need to have some sort of escape and whether that’s to the mountains or whether that’s to the theater, it’s something we can afford to do and need to do for our quality of life.”

Sally Dietlein, executive producer and co-founder of Hale Centre Theatre, said she thinks arts will continue to do well in times of economic uncertainty.

“During the Depression, a thing that did extremely well was MGM musicals, the ones with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers,” Dietlein said. “I remember my mother telling me that they would have their dime and go to the movie, even if they didn’t have a dime to spend, because they needed that relief.”

Dietlein also said she thinks people are staying closer to home and doing “stay-cations” instead of vacations, where they can relax and find entertainment that isn’t too expensive.

Even though many theaters and individuals are currently tightening their budgets, Dietlein encouraged anyone who has a few extra dollars to donate to their favorite arts organization.

“The grassroots support [has] to take over a little bit from what these large corporations have been doing,” she said. “We have to fill in the blanks a little bit until we get everybody up afloat again.”

The Salt Lake Acting Company in Salt Lake City has also had to restructure its organization and funding in recent months, but Nancy Borgenicht, the interim executive producer, said they are seeing an increase in individual donations. These donations help their company immensely, she said.

“The fact that they’re continuing to do that is what boosts your morale,” Borgenicht said. “They’re showing their belief in a place that they value as equal to eating.”

Borgenicht said she believes the arts can do well in times of crisis.

“After 9/11 we opened a play, ‘Memory of Water,’” she said. “We thought no one would come and it was packed. I think that these kinds of crises bring communities together. I don’t think anyone wants to see an art organization in this valley go under — we’re here for each other. I think it’s just a window to get through. I don’t think it’s going to be a big prolonged thing.”

The Ririe-Woodbury Dance Foundation in Salt Lake City is also making changes to balance its budget. Associate Managing Director Jenna Woodbury said they have put salaries on hold for 2010, so no employees will receive raises, and they are also working on fundraising, applying for grants and doing outreach to schools.

Woodbury said that, like many other theaters and arts organizations, The Ririe-Woodbury Dance Foundation has also been seeing an increase in ticket sales recently. She said she hopes ticket sales will continue to be strong.

“It’s an opportunity for families and people to do things together and for people to experience. Art is a very personal experience; it’s very interactive and it’s something you have to do in person.”

Brent Taylor, executive director for the Utah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra, also said he is optimistic about the future of this educational organization.

“We’ve surrounded ourselves with people that have the same mission and that is to provide quality music education for students in this valley,” Taylor said. “As long as we have like-minded people who are willing to make sacrifices to make sure we continue, we’ll be a strong, vibrant organization … The organization’s been around for almost 50 years now; I don’t think we’re going any place dire, very quickly at least.”

Cheryl Cluff, managing director of Plan-B Theater Company in Salt Lake City, counseled theaters to make do with what budget they have in order to thrive in today’s economy.

“We need to look at what’s realistic and make do with the budgets that we’ve got,” she said.

She also encouraged everyone to continue coming out to shows.

“Keep supporting local artists,” Cluff said. “It keeps actors acting, designers designing and directors directing.”