"Art," said the German writer Jean Paul Richter, "is not the bread, but the wine of life." Given the recent floundering of the fine arts at Centennial Hall, it appears that the UA community couldn't agree more.
UApresents, the organization responsible for artistic events at Centennial Hall, recently announced that last year's underwhelming theater season would add another $300,000 to its current debt, bringing the total deficit to just over $800,000.
In an effort to combat the steep decline in ticket sales, UApresents has deployed a business-minded action plan that would slash the number of performance nights by nearly one-half while booking shows that are more likely to stay in the black.
William Seberger, UApresents spokesman, lamented the reduced performance schedule but explained to the Arizona Daily Wildcat, "Presenting fine arts is difficult because on the one hand you want to provide interesting and fun entertainment with redeeming artistic value, and on the other hand you have to make money."
For better or worse, the new plan has the effect of booking the bland kind of fare that has proven to rake in the green while forsaking the finer of the fine arts. Indeed, this year's schedule includes such guaranteed hits as "Oklahoma!" and "Little Shop of Horrors," while the presence of modern dance and classical music performances has been noticeably reduced.
True, such developments might seem distasteful to those who would appreciate more refined performances, but if UApresents is to stay afloat, it must yield to the demands of its audience. Something is awry when Tucson, a city often noted for its vibrant art community, fails to patronize one of its greatest cultural centers.
It has often been said that art beholden to economics is not art at all. Idealistic though that may be, the truth of the matter is that unprofitable performances cannot be allowed to drag down UApresents, an otherwise admirable institution that makes enormous contributions to the UA community.
In this sense, at least, the organization is correct in booking shows that are more likely to appeal to a wide audience. Hopefully, UApresents' new outlook will improve its financial situation enough so that it will one day be able to field all manners of artistic performances.
Opinions board:
Opinions are determined by the Wildcat opinions board and written by one of its members. They are Caitlin Hall, Ryan Johnson, Damion LeeNatali, Aaron Mackey, Mike Morefield and Tim Runestad.