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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2009 > September > 09
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Long Center generates $43 million in economic impact, study says
Long Center officials say an economic impact study shows that the performing arts center generates $20 million per year in direct economic impact through its activities and supports 950 jobs.
The report, released Wednesday and conducted by Michigan firm New Economy Strategies, also revealed that Long Center events generate an additional $18 million in indirect economic impact in the greater Austin area.
Economic impact numbers for the Long Center and its founding resident companies — Austin Lyric Opera, Austin Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Austin — are derived from ticket sales, food and drink revenues, rental income from special events and philanthropic contributions.
The total economic impact of the building of the $77 million two-venue facility was $105 million during the four-year period of 2005 through 2008.
More than 200,000 people attend events at the Long Center each year, the study showed.
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Orchestra confirms Wixson out
Austin Symphony Orchestra officials announced Wednesday that Galen Wixson has resigned as executive director over creative differences.
The announcement, made by Joe R. Long, the orchestra’s board president, comes more than a week after reports that Wixson was longer at his post.
Wixson, who had just been hired in March, has not returned phone calls for comment.
The statement released by Long on Wednesday says that William F. Kemp, the orchestra’s long-time legal counsel assisted in “facilitating the resolution” of “creative differences between the Austin Symphony Orchestra Society and Mr. Wixson.”
Long said he had no further comment beyond the statement.
Reports emerged early last week that Wixson had been fired. A person answering the phone at the orchestra office Aug. 31 told the American-Statesman that Wixson no longer worked there, and Wixson was no longer listed anywhere on the organization’s Web site.
On Sept. 1, more than two dozen orchestra musicians sent a letter to the board’s executive committee protesting the sudden and unexplained absence of Wixson. The orchestra’s letter said the group found it “hard to imagine” any justification “to force him to leave.”
Wixson’s hiring in March, after a national search, was greeted with much fanfare by orchestra officials. Before coming to Austin, Wixson had been executive director at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. He also held similar posts with the Reno Philharmonic, the Symphony of Southeast Texas and the Manhattan Center for the Arts. A statement issued by the Arkansas orchestra when Wixson announced he was headed to the Austin job praised Wixson for his “valuable leadership.”
Long said a search will begin immediately for a new executive director. Anthony Corroa has been named interim executive director of the Austin Symphony.
The departure comes at a critical time as the orchestra is about to start its 99th season on Sept. 18 and is preparing for centennial celebrations. Founded in 1911, the Austin Symphony Orchestra is one of the city’s longest-standing arts organizations. But its inner operations are fairly secretive because the privately held 501(c)(3) nonprofit receives only a small percentage of its approximately $4.5 million budget from government sources.
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