Cincinnati's symphony, opera, ballet to benefit from $85 million gift
Here's an eye-popping story, perfectly timed for the holiday spirit of giving:
My colleague Janelle Gelfand reports that Louise Dieterle Nippert, a 98-year-old arts patron and former soprano, has donated $85 million to a fund that will generate support for the city's cultural institutions -- to the tune of $75 for the Cincinnati Symphony, another $10 million for "the Cincinnati Ballet, the Cincinnati Opera and the May Festival, with the stipulation that those organizations continue to use CSO players in their performances."
Amazing.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Rich people in Baltimore, what are you waiting for? Yes, those other gifts you've been making are most appreciated by one and all, but they're just not in this league. When you get up to $85 million, you're starting to talk real money. Imagine what that could do here, could have done last year, say, before Baltimore Opera sunk beneath the waves. Oh well, no point in being jealous. Hats off to Mrs. Nippert.
Comments
Bless Louise, and thank you, Tim, for calling the locals on the carpet while presenting some GOOD news for the arts community. I'd donate $85 mil if I had it. :) I'm very happy for Cincy.
Posted by: Laura | December 11, 2009 11:41 AM
a gift a third of that could have saved 30 full time jobs, and 100's of part time skilled labor positions at Baltimore opera not to mention build an endowment for the future.
So Many sad points in the story of the Baltimore Opera demise, but one of them most certainly has to be that a 54 year old cultural bastion that had little to no endowment to help defer seasonal costs. An organization that had almost no future financial planning. The things I have learned about how poorly that company was run by management and trustees are a sin.
Sadly at many institutions like many elected officials in Maryland, trustees have forgotten that they represent a "trust" to protect a public interest or private interest, and insure a future for that organization.
Posted by: operainBaltimore | December 11, 2009 12:32 PM
Amen, Tim. $85 million could keep the BSO from cutting to the bone, allow it to really grow instead of retreating from the leagues of major orchestras, and kept our opera afloat. Instead, no one gives much to speak of, the opera is gone, and the symphony struggles like a minor league organization.
Posted by: Amen, Tim | December 12, 2009 7:17 AM
God Bless her!
Having said that, this kind of one-time gift, however generous, does not represent a permanent solution to the budget worries of orchestras and opera companies nationwide.
But one more time, God Bless Louise Dieterle Nippert.
Amen. TIM
Posted by: Don Ciccio | December 14, 2009 9:35 AM
Wonderful gift indeed from Louise Nippert to the Cincinnati organizations. The gift unwittingly raises a big question on how to support such institutions financially, which for me was illustrated by a quote from a musician to this effect:
"It's great if someone gives our organization $1 million. But I think I'd be happier if a million people gave $1 each."
You see the point, about having a broad base of donors and supporters of the arts in a community, not just the big bucks folks.
Would be great to see a mass movement, but I fear the arts will always be dependent on those "big bucks folks." TIM
Posted by: Geo. | December 17, 2009 2:50 PM