Faced with a goal to raise $600,000 by the end of this month or risk the 2015-16 season of performances at Broward Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA), the Florida Grand Opera (FGO) announced that an anonymous donor would match all donations made before Jan. 31.
“We are so fortunate to have an individual who wants to ensure that opera is available for the residents of Broward County at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts,” said General Director and CEO Susan T. Danis. “What a wonderful opportunity.”
The offer comes as a direct result of FGO’s announcement earlier this month that unless $600,000 is raised by Jan. 31, the opera would be unable to bring its 2015-16 season performances to the Fort Lauderdale-based center. Citing dwindling support that resulted in losses at BCPA for the opera, Danis announced Jan. 7 the goal to raise $600,000 by Jan. 31 – the day that the opera must inform BCPA whether or not it will use the dates reserved for the company.
Approximately $200,000 has been identified, leaving about $400,000 to raise by the end of the month. The opera has raised about $50,000 since the announcement, so if it can raise $175,000 by Jan. 31, the anonymous donor would match it, reaching $600,000. A spokeswoman for FGO said the matching donation is not limited, so if more than $175,000 is raised going forward, the donor would still match that amount.
If the goal is reached, FGO will take two productions to BCPA for the 2015-16 season, for a total of four performances because available dates at BCPA did not line up with its available dates at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. Productions at the Arsht Center would not be affected by the campaign and FGO could bring performances to BCPA in future seasons if the goal is not met.
FGO has a budget for the 2014-15 season of about $8.6 million, significantly less than the $10.4 million the previous year. Celebrating its 74th season, FGO has been performing at BCPA for more than 20 years and normally brings productions first to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami and then two final performances at BCPA in Fort Lauderdale.
