Gala Planning On A Budget Of … Way Less Than Last Year

“Now — in an era of belt-tightening — funding and promoting a grandiose art form is a tricky business. Especially when you have $150,000 less to spend on the ball this year,” as is the case for Washington National Opera’s annual Opera Ball, budgeted this year at $250,000. “The ball planners are trying to make do without anyone’s realizing they are spending a lot less.”