Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund
Metro Atlanta Arts & Culture Coalition
Atlanta Coalition of Perforiming Arts

For Immediate Release
December 18, 2008

Metro Atlanta Arts and Culture Organizations Report Decline in Revenues, Impacts on Staffing and Pressures on Programming

ATLANTA – Arts and culture organizations across 19 counties in Metro Atlanta are experiencing a sharp decline in total revenues, including decreased ticket sales, and are adjusting their programming to continue serving their audiences during the economic downturn.

These findings and others were evident in a newly completed survey that focuses on the effect of the current economic crisis on the region’s non-profit arts organizations. Top-line results include:

• Of 159 organizations, more than half (59%) reported a decrease in total revenue from November 2007 to November 2008, while 21% reported an increase in total revenue
• Of 113 organizations, 55% reported a decrease in single ticket sales
• 27% of all respondents have reduced programming in order to decrease costs from November 2007 to November 2008.  Nearly 40% of the respondents who have undergone this change are expecting a deficit at the end of this current budget year.
• Another 36% of respondents altered programs from 2007 to 2008 in order to decrease costs and 17% have reduced number of staff or artists to help reduce costs

Respondents to the survey were leaders of more than 160 non-profit arts organizations in a 19-county area of metro Atlanta. Organizations with budgets ranging from under $100,000 annually to $5+ million were polled in the on-line survey. It was conducted via a combined effort of the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts, the Metro Atlanta Arts & Culture Coalition and the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund, working together with the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs and the Fulton County Arts Council.

The purpose of the survey was to gauge the initial and early effects of the current economy on arts organizations’ bottom lines and – more importantly – on their ability to continue serving their audiences and patrons during and after the downturn.

“It’s vital that our agencies, which are on the front lines of building support for and sustaining our region’s arts and culture, keep a close hand on the pulse of the financial environment for arts groups,” said Flora Maria Garcia, President and CEO of MAACC.

Added Lisa Cremin, Director of the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund, “We intend to continue to closely monitor the economic effects being felt by the artistic community, who bring so much day-to-day enrichment to our region, and to regularly report on these impacts to sustaining institutions, supporters and arts patrons. As we approach year end, we recommend that donors remember arts institutions in their year-end giving.”

Kim Patrick Bitz, Executive Director of the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts, said it was understandable that people are trimming discretionary spending at this time. "Unfortunately, the effect of this is often devastating to already under-funded arts organizations.  Audiences are an integral part of greater Atlanta's cultural ecosystem.  We want people to know that treating yourself to a night of theatre, music or dance is a great escape during these stressful times."

Cultural and arts leaders for City of Atlanta and Fulton County governments indicated they are utilizing the full survey results to ensure awareness among elected officials as well as to guide and inform arts grant-making processes during upcoming budget cycles.

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Contact: Ken Haldin (404) 405-2924 or Flora Maria Garcia (678) 733-0071