Music lovers have a lot to be grateful for in this area: An orchestra of international standing, along with several smaller ensembles, all producing remarkably effective performances on a regular basis. A fine, full-sized opera company, along with some of more modest dimensions, all trying to serve the vocal art with distinction. Excellent choral and chamber groups. A vibrant, history-rich conservatory. And much more.
But, on this Thanksgiving Day, the gratitude mingles with trepidation. The economic meltdown is taking a daily toll on music organizations. Those fortunate enough to have achieved financial stability are now dealing with erosion of endowment funds and contributions, if not dwindling ticket sales, too. Institutions used to living hand-to-mouth are finding it harder than ever to make ends meet.
The Baltimore Opera Company and Baltimore Chamber Orchestra appear to be hanging on by a thread or two. My guess is that others will send distress signals before long, as the downturn deepens.
There's clearly something tougher about these tough times than in past recessions, and there's every chance that things will get a lot worse before they get better. Arts organizations, by their nature, tend to be fragile, depending so heavily on the generosity of private individuals, corporations, foundations. And art is expensive, at least if quality is the goal.
Unwise management decisions can threaten an arts group's stability as severely as any turmoils in the economy. You can hear plenty of recriminations as people wonder how some institutions could have slipped so far, but the blame game isn't particularly useful right now.
We need to see solid game plans for turning things around. Maybe it's worth taking a look at the cities in the country that have tried a United Way-type campaign for the arts. Maybe some strategy of sharing resources could be useful in providing short-term fixes for the most severely threatened organizations, while long-term solutions are developed.
Certainly, our whole community will be hurt by any decline in our local musical products, any bankruptcy or suspension of activity, so our whole community needs to step up to the plate in one way or another. Organizations that have relied too heavily on too few donors for too long will have to expand their reach and their appeal. And donors, even those who are seeing their own personal fortunes adversely affected, will have to decide that it's worth staying in the picture anyway because the alternative - seeing music institutions fail - is unacceptable.
