Don't be fooled by the rising stock market or other signs of economic recovery. The color of most state budgets is deep red, and arts funding remains on the chopping block. Coast to coast, theaters already offering fewer productions are set to lower their tallies further, with shows featuring tiny casts increasingly standard. Until state arts funding stabilizes—that's a big if—the number of acting jobs on stage won't rise anytime soon.Federal funding increases for the National Endowment for the Arts aside, the matter is so dire at the state level that Americans for the Arts has compiled a 24-page list of trouble spots. Cuts in New Jersey, Florida, and South Carolina alone, for example, "represent a $15.7 million loss in state funding for the arts." Two months ago, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies released its own analysis, pegging the total national drop at $32.8 million during the last two fiscal years.
- 3/24/2010
- backstage.com
With many theatre companies across the country closing because of the recent economic downturn, the Utah Shakespearean Festival is tightening its belt and making adjustments and cutbacks to its 2009 season to ensure its continued artistic and financial solvency. The Festival ended 2008 with a slight deficit, but administrators are looking forward and planning to weather the deepening financial storm-although they admit it has involved making some difficult decisions. Changes decided upon include the shortening of the summer season by one week, changing the line-up and calendar of plays in the fall season, eliminating some positions, and several other money-saving cuts. "As we look ahead to the coming year and predictions of a furthering recession," said R. Scott Phillips, Festival executive director, "we want to be pro-active and guarantee that the Festival (which was founded nearly 50 years ago) continues for at least another half-century." "Thus, we have taken a fine scalpel and...
- 1/20/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
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