“The curtain won’t rise on the Aspen Music Festival and School’s 2020 season, as COVID-19 has done what no war or economic downturn could do in the last 71 years—silence live performances,” writes Madeleine Osberger in Monday’s (5/4) Aspen Daily News (CO). “All performances and educational activities involving the 2020 festival are now canceled…. The decision was made after consultations with hospitals, boards of health and staff leadership, according to Aspen Music Festival and School President and CEO Alan Fletcher. The cancellation … affects 640 students and 120 faculty members, he said…. The timing of Sunday’s announcement was prompted by the need to confirm piano deliveries from New York and finalize food-service arrangements…. Fletcher said … the initial estimate of a $2 million loss … was now looking closer to a $1 million deficit. ‘We had some good luck with the [Paycheck Protection Program] and possibly a grant from the NEA,’ Fletcher said. There won’t be furloughs by AMFS staffers but some administrators are taking a pay cut, he said. Recent discussions … about borrowing $6 million from the Wheeler real estate transfer tax fund for emergency relief grants to arts organizations also is of interest to AMFS, Fletcher said.”
Change font size
