DC area arts organizations sacrifice to weather recession
Even as the economy begins to show some signs of rebound, local LGBT arts organizations continue to feel the pinch.
Many LGBT-friendly organizations the Baltimore and Washington areas
continue to struggle as a result of the declining fortunes of Brother, Help Thyself. The organization provides financial and other support to LGBT and HIV/AIDS service organizations in the Baltimore/Washington area, but it has seen nearly a 50 percent reduction in contributions.
The Third Millennium Ensemble, a group dedicated to perform the works of lesbian and gay composers, is one organization Brother, Help Thyself supports. The decline in funds meant the organization’s annual donation to Third Millennium fell from $2,000 to just $300. And as a result, Millennium Ensemble had to solicit private donations to make up the shortfall.
"Almost every LGBT group in the DC/Baltimore area is funded by them," Pamela Helton, artistic director for Millennium Ensemble, lamented.
The strategy of soliciting funds friends and patrons of the arts who already donate through the purchase of tickets to performances, was recently employed by the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus. Faced with the very real possibility of canceling their season, each member of the chorus was given the goal of raising $200. Their successful, albeit reluctant, hat-in-hand campaign made a difference. And the chorus recently announced they would forge ahead with the 2009/2010 season based on these efforts.
As for Third Millennium, Helton noted her group has not had to contemplate canceling performances, but it did decide, however, not to make a planned recording that would have involved prohibitive studio costs.
"We are hiring fewer musicians and doing smaller scale ensembles," Helton said.
One in Ten, a non-profit organization dedicated to education and cultural activism on behalf of gays and lesbians, was able to continue "Reel Affirmations," the District’s gay and lesbian film festival, after what executive director Margaret Murray described as "making some hard decisions."
"We moved into a shared office space, and we didn’t keep festival staff on as long as we normally would," she said.
They also struck a deal with the District’s Shakespeare Theatre Company. One in Ten will have their festival in STC’s Harman Center for the Arts space this year. And it will then share the profits based on the amount of money each organization puts into the event.
"We share expenses, staff, marketing and development," Murray said. "They do our ticketing and box office."
Early last year, they also made the decision to scrap their annual spring fundraising gala in favor of a series of home and bar-sponsored parties to coincide with the Academy Awards. Murray said these moves have allowed One in Ten to reduce overhead "enough to get us through this period." She remains hopeful.
"It’s in the best shape we could hope for," Murray said.
