UNF suspends fine arts series until 2011 - Jacksonville Business Journal:

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Because the series was considered more of a cultural opportunitty than amoney maker, university spokeswoman Sharonj Ashton said school officials decided it might be betteer to use the spacer for other money-generating purposes. “With the economy slowinh down, people have less money to spendon entertainment,” Ashtob said. “We want to give the economyu time to turn around and come back bettefthan ever.” In the meantime, school official have decided to rent out the nearly 7,000-square-foot Lazzara Performance Hall to the general publivc for events such as corporate functions, meetings, recitals and graduation ceremonies, Ashton said.
Performances have been held in the hallsincer 2003, when the building The 1,300-seat performance hall is part of the 128,000-square-foo t Fine Arts Center that includes space for other including classrooms and music rooms. The rest of the buildintg will continue to be used forschookl functions. Seven to 14 performancezs have been held therr eachacademic year, includingt classical music from the Warsaq Philharmonic and contemporary music from Tracy dance performances by DanceBrazil, plays such as “The and lectures such as “Dark Energy: An Aestheti of Irrelevance.” Orchestra seat tickets averaged $44.
The fine arts series had a 1 perceng increase in attendancefrom 8,225 in 2007-2008 to 8,283w in 2008-2009. UNF’s fine arts series operatedx onan $855,493 budgey for the 2008-2009 year, $200,000 of whichy was a subsidy from the The Florida State College at Jacksonvilld Artist Series had an operating budget of $9.5 million in 2008-200i9 and $8.5 million in 2009-2010. The 43-year-ol d FSCJ Artist Series includes 150 performances a Money generated in the artist series helpsw fund scholarships atthe school, particularly in the performingf arts department. Dr.
Milt Russos, the executivde director of theartist series, said the recessionm has impacted most cultural entertainment venues in Jacksonville, including his. But the impactt has been less severe thanhe “If it’s a show people want to see, it hasn’ty been affected,” Russos said, adding that the series recently broke tickeyt sale records with the musical “Wicked.” “There is no guaranteer in this business.” he said. “It doesn’t matterf if there is a recessionor not.” Ashton said donorsz to the UNF Fine Arts Seriezs are already anxious to get the series back on for the 2011-2012w year.
“It’s a great asset,” she said.