“Starting as early as next season, a new business model could make life a little easier for two major Madison arts organizations,” writes Lindsay Christians in Sunday’s (5/30) Capital Times (Madison, WI). “Last week, Madison Ballet and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra announced a $30,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation to explore … sharing administrative resources…. The chamber orchestra and ballet have been working together for at least 16 years…. WCO artistic director Andrew Sewell said … that he and [ballet artistic director W. Earle] Smith ‘have always maintained an excellent artistic and working relationship.’ … [Gretchen Bourg, Madison Ballet’s general manager] said the goal is to hire a consultant by the end of June.” The ballet company cancelled “the remainder of its 2016-17 performances following the fall production of Dracula.… The ballet’s budget is around $1.3 million, while the Chamber Orchestra’s is close to $2.4 million. ‘Neither of our organizations [is] living with a whole lot of fat,’ Bourg said…. ‘We would have to add staff to make this happen.’ … Still, she said, ‘there are going to be places to save money, efficiencies.’ The point, Bourg emphasized, is to allow both organizations to grow.”
Posted June 1, 2016
