The Tucson Symphony Orchestra has announced an emergency fundraising bridge campaign to raise $1 million by the end of 2009. In appealing to its donors, subscribers, and patrons for help, the TSO stated that the campaign comes in response to declines in ticket revenue, contributed income—which had started strong last fall—and investment revenue. The TSO’s recent Luxury Car Raffle, which it says had been a source of considerable revenue for the past 23 seasons, failed to meet financial expectations. The orchestra says it has already cut administrative staff and salaries of staff and musicians, and asked guest artists for fee concessions; any further cuts, the TSO states, would “seriously threaten” the orchestra and the music.
Posted May 1, 2009