Another Red Deer arts group is in a financial crunch — this time it’s the ever-popular Red Deer Symphony Orchestra.
The RDSO regularly fills the 600-seat Red Deer College Arts Centre Mainstage theatre, but was recently forced to cut programs and reduce staff wages in an effort to balance the budget.
Unlike Central Alberta Theatre, which accrued an $800,000 debt by taking on a too-expensive renovation project, there was no expansion move behind the RDSO’s financial trouble.
The 26-year-old orchestra remains $50,000 in the hole because of a deeper than expected decrease in provincial funding. “It’s no one’s fault. There’s just not as much money as before,” said RDSO executive director and principal oboist Melody McKnight.
The RDSO’s annual budget, which once stood at more than $500,000, was whittled to $430,000 this year, and requires a further reduction to break even.
McKnight said the symphony’s season could have been designed to be less costly had organizers known the grant amounts when the 2012-13 season was planned in April. But the provincial grant announcements weren’t made until July, less than three months before the season opens on Oct. 6.
While city and federal Canada Council funding to the RDSO has remained stable (“and we’re grateful for that,” said McKnight), provincial grants have been in decline.
The biggest change came with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts grant, which was reduced by a third over the past three years — to $54,000 from a previous $87,000 in 2010-11. A matching Community Spirit grant also yielded less, because of a rise in demand from provincial arts groups, said McKnight.
While provincial grants have dropped off with a general decrease in Alberta arts funding, community support for the RDSO is unflagging.
The orchestra has been selling out season subscriptions for the past seven seasons, and has loyal sponsors — some of whom have contributed to the organization for a quarter century. But public support can’t cover the latest shortfall, said McKnight.
As a result, a lot of difficult decisions had to be made, including:
l Shelving the Chamber Series, which featured small musician ensembles playing in Red Deer churches.
l Implementing wage reductions for McKnight and RDSO music director Claude Laplame, as well as trimming some staff hours.
l Shrinking the popular Choir Kids educational program that entails the orchestra working with Central Alberta elementary school choirs. It was reduced to two concerts on one evening instead of four concerts over two.
McKnight hopes the second evening can be restored if enough money is found.
“We’re in discussions now with the city and the province. They’re definitely onside with us,” she added — but there’s no word yet on whether more grant money can be found. City council will discuss RDSO’s request on Monday.
If it doesn’t turn up, the RDSO will have to make more cuts in the next few weeks in staff hours, and education and outreach programs.
“Our season subscriptions have been sold, so we can’t make any big program changes,” she said. But the RDSO is looking at doing things differently in future seasons.
This doesn’t mean program quality will suffer, said McKnight, who noted some of the new ideas are sure to be audience pleasers — such as trading services with the Edmonton Opera. Opera singers could be brought in as guest soloists in exchange for RDSO musicians playing for the Edmonton Opera.
Something similar is happening this season, when the RDSO and Edmonton Symphony will trade performances, bringing ESO musicians to Red Deer for an 80-some musician concert in June.
McKnight knows Central Alberta supports and values the orchestra, so she said the RDSO isn’t planning to give up on Red Deer. “I think the city needs the symphony here. It’s good for business because having an arts scene helps when attracting employees. . . .
“We’re determined to serve this community,” she added — in whatever way it takes. “We’re willing to adapt and do pretty much anything.”
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com