Annenberg budget to be cut up to $140,000

The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts has initiated a review of its varied departments in an attempt to cut operating costs, according to Annenberg Center Managing Director Stephen Goff. Goff said the financial cutbacks the center will undergo may total up to $140,000. "We're reviewing our staff and looking for ways to save money," he said. University Provost Stanley Chodorow said that these financial cutbacks are a part of the budget balancing all University departments must perform. "All units of the University are expected to balance their budgets, and Annenberg is no exception," he said. Chodorow also said the center's budget had been "out of balance" since the demise of the Drama Guild. The Guild, a performing arts company which presented many of its plays at the Annenberg Center, was a prime part of the Annenberg Center's financial operations. The Guild ceased operations two years ago due to financial difficulties. According to Goff, the loss of the Guild as a tenant is the primary reason for the new financial cutbacks. "The Drama Guild was our major tenant," he said. "They rented [Annenberg theaters] 15 to 20 weeks a year." And, Goff said it is not likely that the center will find a new organization to take the place of the Guild. "There is no other organization like it in this area that can fill that kind of time," he explained. "[The Guild] put on 5 shows that ran for three to four weeks each." Though no definite decisions have been made about where the cutbacks will occur, Goff said all departments of the Annenberg Center are being reviewed for cost-efficiency solutions. He added that in addition to reducing general operating costs, the review will probably indicate a need for a combination of departmental reductions including possible salary cuts. Goff also said that some jobs that are one year long may possibly be cut to 10 months due to the fact that there is no Annenberg programming during the month of August. Despite the impending cutbacks, he said the center does not anticipate losing many jobs. "There may be one or two jobs lost, but for the most part, people will have to decide if they can accept the new conditions [such as working less months out of the year]," he said. Goff also said that the center cannot depend on federal funding to keep it out of the red. "With the funding status of the arts the way it is, you can't count on that," he said. "You have to be careful." Goff said the cutbacks will go into effect on July 1.