The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra board is hoping the local business community can play a stronger role as the orchestra attempts to stave off bankruptcy and sort out labour issues with its musicians’ union.
And while both sides in the current dispute say they remain optimistic a lockout of the 65 contract musicians can be avoided by the Oct. 7 deadline set by the CPO society, board chair Byron Neiles says the business community can take steps to help the deficit-burdened orchestra get back on its feet.
The CPO is facing a deficit of close to $650,000, with a line of credit set to expire around Christmas, and has asked the musicians to swallow what amounts to a 16-per-cent cut in wages and pension contributions. Although negotiations were continuing late last week, the board was holding firm on the lockout date.
Neiles says donations from the business community have been affected by increased corporate consolidation, including oilpatch mergers and acquisitions. “With the consolidation we see, and with the competition for dollars from charities and movements such as homelessness and youth at risk, the arts is increasingly challenging as a proposition for companies who only have X numbers of dollars to invest in their donations and sponsorships,” Neiles says.
Larger pre-season orders have also dwindled as patrons choose to buy individual show tickets, and Neiles says past benefactors, both corporate and individual, have indicated they wish to see the CPO get its house in order before considering more contributions.
Neiles adds the business community can help out by making more financial contributions, buying subscriptions or tickets for clients, customers and employees, and contributing their business experience by serving on the CPO board.
Mark Johnson, president of the Calgary Musicians Association, says the CPO’s financial situation cannot be solved by simply dipping into the pockets of its musicians. While the musician’s association would support an appeal to Calgary’s corporate community for help, “we don’t see that happening,” he says.
“We see such a singular focus right now on trying to reduce the amount of activity of the orchestra, and cutting expenditures, and no real plan.”
The CPO is not the only symphony facing financial challenges. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra last week announced it is entering a restructuring phase to tackle a cumulative deficit of nearly $7 million.
“The capacity of symphonies to sustain revenues, to hold audiences and to deepen their connection to the communities has been severely tested around the world,” said Toronto Symphony board chair Robert Weiss.
“For the short term, we need to reach an accommodation where our cost structure is modified in the way we’re pursuing it with the musicians now, but on a go-forward basis, to sustain the organization certainly in light of what’s happening around North America,” he adds.
CPO board member Debi Andrus agrees there are many opportunities in the community to improve the orchestra’s revenue picture.
“We do have to get our house in order, but we want to have the musicians on board with us,” says Andrus, assistant professor of marketing and e-business at the University of Calgary.
“We’re trying to be strategic in our fund development, and that’s part of this new plan going forward . . . making sure we’re looking at new businesses as well and try to stimulate their interest.”
Nexen, a major corporate sponsor for this year’s CPO season, says it continues to support the orchestra.
“We have supported the CPO for years,” says Kevin Finn, Nexen’s vice-president of communications. “We believe the quality of life in Calgary . . . is related to the quality of arts in the city. We have been a long term supporter of the CPO, and our views haven’t changed.”
