The Tennessean has a story today on how the arts community in Nashville is adapting to changes in the economy through collaboration and new ideas. It’s a testament to the resourcefulness and ingenuity of our  local nonprofits:

“For institutions like us across the city, it’s a time for people who aren’t traveling as much to take advantage of what’s in their own backyard,” said Cheekwood President and CEO Jack Becker. Cheekwood’s paid attendance is 12 percent above where it was this time last year.

But whatever happens over the next few months, there will be little room for financial error. There’s widespread sentiment in the arts community that funding in all its forms is going to be scarce for the near future. “None of us believe things are going to be the way they were,” said the symphony’s Valentine.

Creative ways of selling tickets have become part of the plan for growing audiences in tough times.
The opera and the ballet, for example, have created flex programs that let ticket buyers buy vouchers for shows instead of committing to far-away dates. The Ballet is offering half-off tickets for children of season ticket subscribers.

“I really believe that one of the great things about people in general and people in Nashville is that we have a lot of ingenuity, and with every challenge is an opportunity,” said Andrea Dillenburg, director of the Nashville Ballet. “Our jobs are to find out how to take this mission we find ourselves in and make it something better.”

From the Tennessean:

In this tough economy, vacations are becoming “staycations” as people stick close to home. Many of the museums and cultural institutions now topping those itineraries are making their own financial adjustments, showcasing their permanent collections rather than springing for expensive traveling exhibitions.

 That’s the approach Cheekwood Museum of Art has taken this summer as it presents “From Washington to Warhol: Americana Redefined,” on view through Jan. 3, 2010.

To be fair, Cheekwood typically turns inward for its summer art show, says curator Jochen Wierich. This is partly because the museum schedules several outdoor events and exhibitions taking advantage of its extensive gardens and grounds during summer months. Inside, Wierich says the museum typically does “something that draws from the permanent collection, that doesn’t require a lot of logistics.”

This year, however, there was also a need to rein in costs. For example, there was no opening reception for “From Washington to Warhol” and the show will remain up through fall, eliminating the expense of mounting another one. The museum is also eschewing a catalog or other handout material on the exhibition.