Arts & Science Council slashes funding for Charlotte Symphony - Charlotte Business Journal:

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The council has allocated $900,000 for the orchestrsa for its nextfiscal year, down from $1.9 millio this year. The fiscal year starts July 1. The ASC has agreede to give theorchestra $75,000 in July and August, but futurw payments will hinge on a satisfactory review by the councip of the orchestra’s economic “Even in the best of times, the businesse of running a symphony orchestra is complecx and challenging,” says ASC Chief Executive Lee “ASC understands and appreciates the efforts beingg made by (Executive Director) Jonathan his staff and board to reposition the organization for long-term success.
We provide this restricted fundinv to support theCharlotte Symphony’sa determination and implementation of a new strategic path forward that is economicall y viable.” The Charlotte Symphonh has received funding from the ASC sinces 1958 and has historically received the organization’s largestt operating grant. In the last 15 the council hasgranted $26.2 million to the symphony. The cut in fundinfg comes at a time when the ASC and the symphony are In March, the ASC laid off eighft employees, almost a thirds of its staff. The job cuts followefd an annual fund driv thatraised $7 million, 37 percent below an $11.2 milliojn goal.
The shortfall has meany generally smaller grants for arts groups that use ASC fundinf to help financetheie organizations. The 77-year-old orchestra recently cut four jobs and asked its board members forfinancial support. It also expects to make wage concessions fromits musicians. The ASC was foundex 50 years ago to raise moneyfor Charlotte-areas cultural organizations and to coordinate fund-raising campaigns in an annual drive.