In Monday’s (8/23) Los Angeles Times, Mike Boehm writes, “The going remains tough, but the financial outlook is improving somewhat for Orange County’s two leading performing arts presenters. The Orange County Performing Arts Center and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County both have announced modest operating surpluses for their recently concluded 2009-10 seasons. At the Costa Mesa performing arts center, by far the largest arts organization in Orange County, the extra $200,000 allowed it to continue chipping away at a $1-million deficit that accumulated during the recent recession. The deficit now totals $700,000, center spokesman Tim Dunn said. After laying off staff and cutting salaries in 2008-09, the center was able to get through the year that ended June 30 without further reductions, Dunn said. … OCPAC, which offers a gamut of classical, pop, jazz and spoken-word concerts, a dance series, touring Broadway musicals and family shows, reported 414,000 paid admissions for the 273 events it booked itself during 2009-10, compared with 300,000 admissions to 210 events during 2008-09. Its resident groups, the Pacific Symphony, the Pacific Chorale and the Philharmonic Society, presented an additional 132 performances, drawing a combined audience of 136,000.”
Posted August 24, 2010
