In Monday’s (3/29) Post and Courier (Charleston, South Carolina), Adam Parker reports, “A significant drop in fundraising dollars, exacerbated by the recession’s ‘strong headwind’ has forced the Charleston Symphony Orchestra to suspend its operations, effective immediately, board president Ted Legasey said Sunday. … The remaining Masterworks concert, scheduled for April 17, has been canceled. Ticket holders will be asked to donate the cost of tickets to the organization or be reimbursed, Legasey said. Symphony management will downsize its staff and develop a restructuring plan with the hope that bankruptcy can be avoided and the organization can regain its footing in time for next season, he said. … The drastic move was caused by a decline in major gift giving of 60 percent compared to last year, he said. The symphony likely would have canceled its season earlier but for two recent bequests worth about $490,000, which has enabled the organization to pay musicians through April 4, Legasey said. … About $100,000 already has been collected from subscribers to the 2010-11 season, putting the symphony on course to meet its $300,000 ticket sales goal by the start of next season.”
Posted March 29, 2010
