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

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Because the series was considered more of a culturalk opportunity than amoney maker, university spokeswoman Sharon Ashtob said school officials decided it might be betterr to use the space for othetr money-generating purposes. “With the economy slowing people have less money to spendon entertainment,” Ashton “We want to give the economy time to turn aroundf and come back better than ever.” In the meantime, school officialsd have decided to rent out the nearly 7,000-square-foot Lazzarz Performance Hall to the general public for events such as corporatew functions, lectures, meetings, recitals and graduatioj ceremonies, Ashton said.
Performances have been held in the hallsince 2003, when the building opened. The 1,300-sea t performance hall is part ofthe 128,000-square-fooft Fine Arts Center that includes space for otherd uses, including classrooms and music The rest of the buildinf will continue to be used for schoop functions. Seven to 14 performances have been held there eachacademid year, including classical music from the Warsaq Philharmonic and contemporary music from Tract Byrd, dance performances by DanceBrazil, plays such as “Th Tempest” and lectures such as “Dark Energy: An Aesthetid of Irrelevance.” Orchestra seat tickets averagee $44.
The fine arts series had a 1 percenf increase in attendancefrom 8,225 in 2007-2008 to 8,283 in UNF’s fine arts series operatexd on an $855,493 budget for the 2008-2009 year, $200,000 of which was a subsidyt from the university. The Florida State College at Jacksonvilles Artist Series had an operating budgetof $9.5 millionj in 2008-2009 and $8.5 million in 2009-2010. The 43-year-old FSCJ Artisy Series includes 150 performances a Money generated in the artist series helpss fund scholarships at the particularly in the performingarts department. Dr.
Milt Russos, the executive directorf of theartist series, said the recession has impacte d most cultural entertainment venues in Jacksonville, including his. But the impacf has been less severe thanhe feared. “Ig it’s a show people want to see, it hasn’t been Russos said, adding that the series recently broke ticket sale recordd with themusical “Wicked.” “There is no guarantee in this he said. “It doesn’t matter if there is a recessiobnor not.
” Ashton said donors to the UNF Fine Arts Series are already anxious to get the seriee back on for the 2011-2012 “It’s a great asset,” she