«(...)
In the warren of Met administrative offices, the people who run one of the world’s busiest opera houses had something else to applaud: a record amount of contributions for the fiscal year that ended in July. According to preliminary figures released for the first time, the Met hauled in $182 million, an astonishing amount in a tough economic climate and 50 percent more than it raised just the year before.
And there was other good news. For the first time in seven years, the Met had balanced its budget, thanks partly to $11 million in profits last year from its HD movie theater transmissions, which had been operating for only five years (...)». Mas as nuvens negras continuam lá:
«(...)
But even Mr. Gelb’s enthusiasm cannot erase the significant financial problems that remain. The Met is carrying $41 million in debt. Ticket sales declined last year. The endowment remains damaged by the recession. At last count, its pension accounts were seriously underfinanced. And no one, not even Mr. Gelb, suggests that it will be easy to repeat the fund-raising success of the past year.
Donor contributions now support 43 percent of the Met’s whopping $325 million operating budget, up from 38 percent in 2005.
Without that kind of continuing generosity, the Met will have an exceedingly hard time paying for the most expensive performing arts program in the country.
“Any performing arts organization that depends on contributions is going to have to raise even more in contributions the following year,” said Robert J. Flanagan, a retired Stanford University economics professor who studies the performing arts. “Are the tastes of people who like opera strong enough to be willing to pay that amount?”
Of course, to focus too much on these pitfalls now, as the money pours in, is a little like worrying about your cholesterol as rescuers save your life after a car crash. (...)».
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