Some Manitoba arts institutions face major deficits driven by inflation, fewer sales
Audiences haven’t come back to live performances at same levels, organizations say
Some of Manitoba's most celebrated artistic institutions are looking at a challenging road ahead in the face of major deficits and audience levels that haven't rebounded post-pandemic.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet celebrated the return of all live performances last year for its 83rd season, but earlier this week announced it is coping with a $520,000 deficit.
Though the ballet company sold out season-opening performances of Snow White at the end of September, artistic director Andre Lewis says it still hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic and didn't see the audiences it was hoping for last season.
The organization is also facing rising costs due to inflation, Lewis said.
"All arts organization are always in that position that they want to live within their means, but there are times when, because of the pandemic, because of inflation, because of all kinds of costs that have increased, [we're put] in that position," Lewis said.
Lewis said the lack of students at the ballet school during the pandemic is also impacting the organization's bottom line.
The ballet company is hoping the provincial and federal governments will provide additional funding, but it will have to make some adjustments to reduce costs in the meantime, such as moving its opening night to Thursday from Wednesday.
Despite the financial hardship, the iconic arts institution isn't going anywhere anytime soon, Lewis said.
"Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canada will not lose the RWB, but … it may be that we need to do things differently in order to provide the kind of quality that we have done in the past," he said.
WATCH: Manitoba arts institutions struggle with rising costs, fewer ticket sales:
Other organizations struggling
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet isn't the only Manitoba arts organization that's struggling.
Last week, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra announced it had a $1.3-million deficit at the end of its last season due to a combination of factors, including rising costs and a decline in ticket sales compared to pre-pandemic levels.
During its 2022-23 season, the symphony's audience was about one-third less than it was pre-pandemic, according to a recent news release.
The symphony's executive director, Angela Birdsell, said the organization had planned for a shortfall and was able to cover it using some reserve funds.
But she said she expects it will take a few years for audiences to rebound, and the organization will need more government support in order to keep operating at the same level.
"I truly don't believe that we can get through this without some seismic shift in how all three levels of government invest in arts and culture," Birdsell said.
She said that in the meantime, the symphony will need to make some changes to reduce costs, such as moving some of its concerts to Thursday from Saturday because it's cheaper to rent the Winnipeg Centennial Concert Hall then.
The WSO is also experimenting with other changes aimed at attracting younger audiences, including starting concerts earlier so that people may be convinced to stay downtown after work and enjoy a show, she said.
Calling on people to come back
While the symphony isn't going anywhere any time soon, people should not expect that it can survive without their support, Birdsell said, pointing to the recent bankruptcy of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
"I do not want our community to be complacent and think that it can't happen here," she said. "I don't want our organization to be complacent."
Down the street from the concert hall, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre executive director Camilla Holland said her organization is also struggling to get as many people through the doors as it saw pre-pandemic, but is currently at about 80 per cent of its pre-pandemic numbers.
Aside from more government funding, Holland said she wants Manitobans to come back to the live performances they love to ensure a secure and stable future for the local arts scene.
"We have this amazing community that's been built over generations, and preserving it is an opportunity for us all," she said.
"And that means buy a ticket, buy a subscription, make a donation, volunteer, lean in."
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With files from Zubina Ahmed and Wendy Parker