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Red In The Black

Large orchestras may be facing massive deficits and concern for their future across the country, but some smaller ensembles with less overhead and fewer staff are actually thriving, despite a dismal economy. One case in point is Red, a Cleveland-based chamber orchestra specializing in contemporary music. Red, founded a year ago by Jonathan Sheffer (of Eos Ensemble fame), “is ending the season with no deficit on a budget of $407,000,” and has apparently been a hit with Cleveland concertgoers.

Cleveland Ensemble May Fold

Even as Red thrives, another Cleveland-based ensemble specializing in new music is in danger of closing up shop. “The Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the admired professional ensemble in residence at Cleveland State University since 1980, is in turmoil and in danger of closing at the end of the 2003-04 concert season. Members of the Chamber Symphony are scheduled to meet today with Cleveland State President Michael Schwartz to discuss the ensemble’s future. But its fate might be sealed. By May 2004, when founding music director Edwin London retires, the group could be out of money.”

Artist, Heal Thyself

The economic slump has spread through galleries and museums, and is now hitting individual artists who make their living selling paintings to the public. James Auer thinks that part of the problem is that most artists don’t actually buy any art themselves. “It’s very difficult to persuade someone to do something you haven’t done yourself. And that includes the act of acquiring a fairly costly artwork – and paying off the debt, if necessary, on the installment plan. Collecting fine art can be a creative act, too. Indeed, it’s the other, essential end of a vital continuum.”

Denver Museum May Get Permanent Home

“A Denver developer has offered to donate one-third of an acre in the Central Platte Valley to the Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver as the site for a $3.6 million to $4 million permanent home… If it is realized, the free-standing, 18,000- to 20,000-square-foot structure would be part of a proposed development that would include 60 units of affordable housing and 11 luxury townhomes.”

Fake Harry Potters Flood The Market

The fifth Harry Potter book is due out in June. But already the internet is flooded with fakes purporting to be the real thing. “There are quite a few fakes out there. It’s a growing problem because the internet is becoming more and more prevalent. We monitor it very closely. Sometimes they have JK’s name on it which is potentially very damaging. I find that quite annoying, we’ve got to take action. Sometimes they’re pornographic which is even more annoying because a lot of the fans are kids.”

Enron Art On The Block

A judge has authorized the sale of the Enron art collection. The company had a budget of $20 million for art, and reportedly spent $4 million. But “the collection is expected to bring $1.3 million to $1.8 million” at auction. “Enron creditors have filed 23,000 claims worth $400 billion.”

Rage Against The Machine

“They used words such as devastated, disaster, catastrophic, oblivion and bizarre. Canada’s TV actors, producers, directors and writers are clearly furious, but exactly what they can do about a massive cut in support money from the Canadian Television Fund is uncertain. ‘To suggest the Canadian television business is in peril is a hilarious understatement,’ [said one Canadian actor.] ‘This is a catastrophic collapse. We are in freefall.'”