News & Updates
1/19/2010
Symphony Splash seeks sponsor for Victoria's most popular public event
By Jim Gibson, Times Colonist
Symphony Splash, Victoria's most popular public event, is looking for a new sponsor.
The Victoria Symphony's free outdoor concert, which drew an estimated 40,000 people to the Inner Harbour last Aug. 2, needs a replacement for Bayview Residences, the title sponsor for the last three years.
Bayview says it will continue to make "a significant contribution" to Splash, but not as title sponsor.
So the hunt is on for a patron who can come up with about $75,000 for Splash, which is the principal fundraiser for the symphony.
The Splash sponsorship is not the only challenge facing the symphony.
Music director Tanya Miller and her musicians are taking salary cuts next season in preparation for the expected $250,000 drop in provincial funding for the 2010-2011 season.
"Pretty much everybody paid by the Victoria Symphony has agreed to rescind some of their salary or lower expected raises," said executive director Mitchell Krieger, who is also taking a pay cut.
He projects a $4-million operating budget for next season, roughly the same as for the current season.
Everyone in the organization -- particularly the musicians -- recognized the significance of the looming $250,000 shortfall from the B.C. Arts Council and lottery grants, he said. "They were very much part of the family, and discussions were very much 'how do we solve our problems?' " Krieger said.
Krieger and Miller have agreed to 10 per cent cuts in their salaries with the start of the orchestra's 2010-2011 season.
"We felt we had to be leaders," Krieger said.
In November, Miller agreed to a three-year contract extension with no pay increase.
Krieger would not reveal salaries and pay rates. But he said the orchestra's 34 core and 11 part-time players agreed to a 1.5 per cent increase rather than the five per cent negotiated under their three-year union contract. They also agreed to drop one week of paid services, which Krieger said amounts to a further two per cent pay cut.
Orchestra committee head and bass trombonist Robert Fraser said players recognized the financial situation.
"We weren't particularly happy [about the cuts], but the symphony board has made a strong commitment to make up the shortfall through fundraising.
"And the administration [Miller and Krieger] took a cut, and the staff in the office took a cut," he said.
The organization's 11 administrative staff usually receive pay increases similar to those of the musicians, said Krieger.
Ken Mariash of Bayview Residences confirmed his company would not sponsor this year's Symphony Splash to the tune of $75,000, as it had the past three years.
He said Bayview's sponsorship moved into six figures when other factors such as parties and entertainment were included.
"[The economy] has affected everybody everywhere," said the Calgary developer of a Songhees condominium project.
Mariash said his company is negotiating to make "a significant contribution" to this summer's Splash. He refused to say what that means dollar-wise.
Other Splash sponsors are already on board for this summer, said Krieger. They include WestJet, the Allen and Loreen Vandekerkhove Family Foundation, Thrifty Foods, Splashes Bath and Kitchen Centre, the Leslie and Murray Glazier Young Musicians Fund, the Ocean 98.5 and Jack FM, and the Times Colonist, said Bethany Wilson, the orchestra's marketing director.
jgibson@tc.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
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