In Friday’s (6/11) Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville), Charlie Patton writes, “The mood was cautiously optimistic at the annual meeting of the Jacksonville Symphony Association’s board of directors Thursday. With the 60th anniversary season completed and a new fiscal year about to begin, the board was told the association operated at about a $400,000 deficit this year, which is what the board had projected. … Probably the biggest disappointment has been a 33 percent decline in ticket sales over the past two years, executive director Stacy Ridenour said. … Giving from businesses and foundations has also declined, Ridenour said. Meanwhile, the crash of the stock market has meant that the 5 percent income the symphony takes annually from its endowment is down over the past two years. But there were also some good economic signs this fiscal year, she said. Board members contributed at record levels, giving $505,000, and private donations were at near-record levels. Overall, Ridenour said, she believes the worst of the economic crisis has passed and the organization has begun ‘a long, slow crawl back.’ … The biggest uncertainty as the symphony prepares its next budget will be what funding the symphony gets from the city through the Cultural Services Grants program.”
Posted June 11, 2010
