In Sunday’s (3/28) Detroit Free Press, Mark Stryker writes, “Detroit arts groups have always struggled to make ends meet. But the depth of today’s economic crisis—compounded by real estate debt, labor issues and precipitous declines in state funding—have led to chronic multimillion-dollar shortfalls and brought the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Opera Theatre and Detroit Institute of Arts to true turning points. … Michigan’s economy has been a dagger. The DSO, MOT and DIA have been caught in a squeeze of falling corporate support, especially from the auto and banking industries, and sagging ticket income as consumers, many coping with job losses or pay cuts, stay home.” The arts organizations Stryker mentions are all working to reach new audiences and create sustainable business. “The DSO is feeding live closed-circuit TV broadcasts of concerts to the Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital to reach audiences that otherwise couldn’t attend. Led by music director Leonard Slatkin, the DSO has also dramatically expanded its menu of free community concerts at sites other than Orchestra Hall, including an upcoming week in June.”
Posted March 29, 2010
