Moving Ballet

上週看到一篇文章Oregon Ballet Theatre needs $750,000，關於美國Oregon芭蕾舞劇院（Oregon Ballet Theatre）的經濟危機，若他們不在這個月底募集到美金75萬-將近台幣2500萬的贊助，就要面臨關門的命運。

去年由於全球不景氣，即使院方調整預算的規劃方向，甚至預支了隔年的預算，但藝術活動參與度降低導致入不敷出，以及資金贊助大幅縮減的結果，他們已經欠下了大筆的債務。

美國的藝術機構的營運經費基本上來自三種管道：門票銷售與會費收入，政府編列的預算，個人、財團、基金會的贊助，然而現實情況是，ticket revenue only covers about 50 percent of the company's annual expenses. State and local government support has remained steady, but corporate giving, never very large in Oregon, and foundation support have both dropped about 50 percent. Individual giving has been the most important source of unearned revenue at the company and makes up 50 percent of all donated money. Its precipitous decline has stretched the company almost to the breaking point.

此外，這是一間芭蕾舞劇院（團），跟博物館或美術館不同的是，在非不得已的時候，也沒辦法拿館藏作為抵押（這裡），在毫無退路，籌不道足夠經費的情況下，關閉劇院將是最終一途。

今天又上去OBT的官網看了一下，有篇部落格談到最近的表演和即將面臨結果揭曉時刻的心情，一種複雜又超脫，寄希望於藝術的安然自適，不禁對此精神肅然起敬，It's an absolute blessing to be able to focus on something else--- not money, not deficits or bills or deadlines--- and just do what we can do best, what we are here to do and what will (we hope) see us through this crisis. It's a beautiful thing, to be able to escape the world's problems (even when those problems are threatening to bang down the door), go into the studio, and work.

相關報導：
Oregon Ballet Theatre needs $750,000
The Push Is On