Politics & Government

Dearborn Hopes to Draw Popular Acts to Ford Community & Performing Arts Center

The Michael A. Guido Theater and Studio A will continue to operate with a deficit budget leading into the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

Dearborn city officials are brainstorming ways to help boost the profitability of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

That was the message at a recent budget meeting between Mayor John B. O'Reilly, city administrators, and members of the Dearborn City Council.

Representatives from the city's Recreation and Parks Department revealed that the center's Michael A. Guido Theater and Studio A venues have operated at a loss every year since fiscal year 2004-2005.

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According to budget information provided by the city, the theater is expected to lose $84,137 with 10 shows for the current fiscal year.

Greg Orner, director of the city's Recreation and Parks Department, said rental revenue from events at the center has been above expenditures since 2004.

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"Rental revenue has helped subsidize the theater," he said. "If we were just a rental house and not a community center that housed the Dearborn Symphony and didn't do a professional season or some of the other professional groups like Vanguard Voices, we could make money.

"When we came to the council to propose the budget for the new center, we said that we would lose probably $249,000 to $269,000 annually because cultural arts do not recoup well."

The theater is planning to reduce its 2013-2014 season to six to eight shows. Confirmed performances include The Nutcracker in December 2013, the Moscow Festival Ballet's Cinderella in January 2014, and the Irish Rovers Farewell Tour in February 2014.

O'Reilly said the city is working with entertainment groups to book smaller acts for niche audiences in the future. Possible shows include the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, one or two national acts, a comedy showcase, and a yet to be determined Hispanic or Middle Eastern musical group. 

In recent years, the theater has managed to attract national tribute acts such as the Beatles group, 1964:The Tribute in April. Ticket sales for the show were high, however due to the cost of hiring the band, the theater barely broke even on profit.

Orner said the Dearborn Community Fund has agreed to establish a performing arts fund to help offset the cost of the professional season and expand cultural programming. The Ford Community and Performing Arts Center has also registered with the PEW Trust in order to apply for Michigan Cultural Arts Grants.

Interns from Henry Ford Community College and the University of Michigan-Dearborn are also helping to market the center through social media and advertising campaigns, Orner said.

To view the center's proposed budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year and other budget documents, visit the city of Dearborn's website and click on the transparency link.

The city council is scheduled to adopt the proposed budget at a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28 in the city council chambers. The fiscal year 2014 budget begins July 1 and ends June 30, 2014.


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