MichiganRadio

DSO Reports $3.8M Deficit, Other Area Arts Groups Struggle ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is in the red for several reasons: ticket sales are down, corporate gifts have dropped by more than $1.5 million, and the orchestra's endowment took a big hit because of the stock market.

The Michigan Opera Theater is also struggling. The company lost two-thirds of its funding when Chrysler and GM went into bankruptcy. So the company has had to cut its budget, shorten its season and lay off staff.

David DiChiera, who runs the theater, says he's hopeful the theater won't post a deficit this year.

"I want to be hopeful because it becomes depressive not to be, you know," he says.

The director of the Detroit Institute of Arts wrote in a monthly newsletter that the museum is struggling financially, but a spokesperson says the museum will not post a deficit this year.

Contact Jennifer Guerra at guerraj@umich.edu

© Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio