It is no secret that those of us in public education were holding our
collective breath when the legislature was considering the budget for fiscal
year 2012-2013. If public education was in jeopardy, you can imagine what it
would mean for those of us in the arts. The district takes good care of us, but
they can only do so much given the needs of our more than 70,000 students.
Even with the legislative approval of this year's budget, The Fine Arts
Center faces increased supply costs and skyrocketing technology costs. We now
find it necessary to take steps to raise the funds to protect our students and
the excellence of our programs. How? For the first time in the almost 40-year
history of the school, we must begin selling tickets to the public, parents and
students for all of our performances.
As much as this troubles me, it is not unusual in the district. All Greenville
County high schools charge $5 for athletic events and school performances. What
we are beginning this year, then, is in line with district guidelines and has
been approved by the district.
From now on, parents, non-FAC students, and other members of the public will pay $5 for performances at The Fine Arts Center. FAC students with a student ID will pay $3.
We do understand, however, that this may be financially difficult for some families, particularly when their child is involved in a program that performs more than once during the school year (such as Jazz Studies, Strings Chamber Music, Voice, Woodwinds Brass and Percussion or Theatre). In those instances, a special package price will be available. The price for FAC parents and non-FAC students will be $5 for one performance, $7 for two performances, $12 for three performances and $15 for four performances. These prices are per person. The cost for FAC students will be $3 for one performance, $4 for two performances, $5 for three performances and $6 for four performances.
Money collected from these events will be distributed to the presenting departments. Non-performing departments, visual arts particularly, will have their budgets increased from the funds provided by the district. (This means that departmental funds currently issued to performing departments could be redistributed to reflect the increase of funds realized from public performances.)
I hope you understand the necessity of this change and will support us as we begin this new school year and this new policy. Thank you for you encouragement and support, and thank you for your students!
From now on, parents, non-FAC students, and other members of the public will pay $5 for performances at The Fine Arts Center. FAC students with a student ID will pay $3.
We do understand, however, that this may be financially difficult for some families, particularly when their child is involved in a program that performs more than once during the school year (such as Jazz Studies, Strings Chamber Music, Voice, Woodwinds Brass and Percussion or Theatre). In those instances, a special package price will be available. The price for FAC parents and non-FAC students will be $5 for one performance, $7 for two performances, $12 for three performances and $15 for four performances. These prices are per person. The cost for FAC students will be $3 for one performance, $4 for two performances, $5 for three performances and $6 for four performances.
Money collected from these events will be distributed to the presenting departments. Non-performing departments, visual arts particularly, will have their budgets increased from the funds provided by the district. (This means that departmental funds currently issued to performing departments could be redistributed to reflect the increase of funds realized from public performances.)
I hope you understand the necessity of this change and will support us as we begin this new school year and this new policy. Thank you for you encouragement and support, and thank you for your students!
