Virginia Symphony wants more bailouts

By Brian Kirwin | Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 | Catch-All

When Virginia Musical Theater asked the City of Virginia Beach for a $200,000 loan from the taxpayers, I caught a lot of flak for suggesting that, although the need was real and the return to the city seemed likely, it set a really bad precedent. How do you say no to the next group with its hand out?

So irritating how frequently I am right, to myself and others, but now the Virginia Symphony is asking for $240,000 from Virginia Beach taxpayers, according to the Virginian-Pilot, and City Council now has to decide either to stay the course or stop now.

This request is apparently in addition to the usual annual grant request they’ve submitted for a somewhat lower amount.

Norfolk did loan Virginia Symphony a half-million dollars to avoid bankruptcy in addition to a grant of over a quarter-million. Newport News hand them over $100,000.

I serve on the city’s Arts and Humanities Commission. I fully understand the economic development power of a thriving arts community. But I really hate bailouts, I really hate special loans, and it’s fully because the arts groups who make sacrifices to weather a tough economy never get the same political support.

It’s exactly like the people who pay their mortgages on time looking at benefits, programs and refinances for people who bought bigger houses than they could pay for, and not only does the average mortgage-payer not get the benefits, he gets the joy of underwriting the benefits that others get for homes that in many cases are more expensive than his.

I see the Little Theaters, both in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, making things work, drawing an audience, and not breaking the bank on doing expensive shows with professional artists. I see smaller organizations and groups banding together, co-promoting, and sharing costs.

If anyone suggests that they be pushed aside to make room for big bailouts to the biggest groups, they’ll at least have to deal with my loud mouth fighting it.

The Virginia Symphony is a $5.16 million dollar operation (an overwhelming amount of which is paid in salaries), but hanging in the balance is 10 Virginia Beach concerts, for which the $240 K is needed. Does that mean no $240 K – no shows?

And if that’s the offer, imagine how excited I am to listen to their request for their annual grant, which last year was $44,000.

Now City Council is in a rotten position. They said yes to one bailout. Can they turn down this one?

And can they turn down the next one?

Together, the loan amount to Virginia Musical Theater and the requested amount for the Virginia Symphony exceeds the total amount of grants the city usually gives to dozens of wonderful arts groups.

My first inclination is this: City Revenues are lower and arts groups revenues are lower because the citizens’ revenues are lower. This is not the year to go to the taxpayer or the city for more money. This is the time to make due with what we can until the economy turns around. The world won’t end if the Symphony takes on a lighter schedule for the time being.

When I visited New York recently, Broadway same-day tickets were half price, and street corner salesmen were hawking them for even less. News Flash – things are tough all over. Does every struggling business deserve a check from the government to meet their payrolls?

It will be interesting to see how Virginia Beach responds to the Symphony’s request. The Virginia Symphony is a regional jewel and needs to survive, in my opinion. I’m not convinced that relying on government is the best way to accomplish that.

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