Vancouver Wa Parks

Vancouver Symphony's future in doubt

The Vancouver Symphony is launching a fundraising campaign. The nonprofit group hopes to raise $100,000 by June 30 to make it through the summer and launch a 33rd season. Without support from the community, the symphony is in danger of closing. Even with a successful campaign, the 2011-2012 season will likely be scaled back.

People can donate money:

Through the symphony website ( http://www.vancouversymphony.org );

By phone (360-735-7278 to reach the symphony office);

Or by sending a check to the Vancouver Symphony (P.O. Box 525, Vancouver, WA 98666).

Several years of declining revenues have caught up with the Vancouver Symphony. Now the nonprofit performing arts group is launching an aggressive fundraising campaign to remain in operation through the summer and launch what would be its 33rd season.

The symphony is making tough cuts in response to dwindling corporate sponsorships and private donations, including eliminating its executive director and marketing director positions.

The nonprofit is looking to raise $100,000 by June 30. A notice from the symphony soliciting donations from the community will appear in Thursday’s Columbian.

The symphony launched a similar “Save the Music” campaign in spring 2010, but with a much smaller goal of raising $20,000. The organization exceeded its target, bringing in about $25,000.

The group had to cancel two April concerts during the 2009-2010 season, though all 2010-2011 performances went on as scheduled.

Whether there will be a 2011-2012 season remains to be seen. Symphony board chairman Scott Milam is optimistic that community support will allow the organization to continue, but said that even if the fundraising goal is met, next season would likely feature smaller concerts with fewer musicians, guest conductors and guest artists, all of whom are paid.

Ticket sales have actually been increasing for the symphony over the past five years. However, ticket sales only cover about 20 percent of the symphony’s budget, and the increase hasn’t been enough to offset declines in other revenue streams such as sponsorships, donations, grants and money brought in from fundraising events.

The symphony saw total revenues of $511,053 in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, down from $526,363 the year prior and $568,372 in fiscal year 2007-2008.

“Like most small nonprofits, the economy has caught up to us. We’re struggling very hard,” Milam said, adding that the symphony projects further declining revenues for fiscal year 2010-2011.

Clearly Speaking: Recycled Arts Festival (Esther Short Park in ...

Today we attended the Recycled Arts Festival in Vancouver, WA. The festival is located in the Esther Short Park and coincided with the local farmer's market that takes place there each weekend. It was lovely.  We perused the vendors' nifty art projects, all of which were made of recycled materials (many of which I am going to copy), and we watched and listened to several hours of bluegrass music. It was a very mellow, sweet day.

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