Annual Community Meeting of the Sunset Cultural Center, Inc. (SCC)

ABSTRACT: Interesting statistics and facts from the Sunset Cultural Center, Inc. (SCC) Annual Community Meeting, Summary of Operations (July 2008 – June 2009) Table and Facility Utilization Report are presented. About 35 people attended the Meeting this morning in the Sunset Center Lobby, including Executive Director Peter Lesnik, SCC Chairman Jim Price, three Board of Trustee Members, Staff Members, the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea and other interested individuals.

• SCC has accrued a reserve or “surplus” of $274,000 since its inception in 2004. Over the same time period, the City subsidy to SCC has been approximately $3.8 million.

• For FY 2008/09, the 4th Quarter ended with $81,658 (Worse) than YTD Budget; the 1st Quarter was the first quarter to post a (Worse) than Budget result, namely $22,526 (Worse), followed by the 2nd Quarter YTD $33,000 (Worse), 3rd Quarter YTD $71,000 (Worse) and 4th Quarter YTD $81,658 (Worse).

• Of the three income sources, namely Rental income, Performance revenue (tickets) and Fees and other income, Performance revenue and Fees and other income were (Worse) than YTD Budget by ($91,494) and ($131,371), respectively. Note: Performance revenue was less than anticipated largely due to the cancellation of two shows, according to Executive Director Peter Lesnik.

• Total Actual YTD Operating Income: $910,881
Total Actual YTD Expenses $1,705,539
City’s Enabling Grant $713,000
$81,658 Deficit FY 2008/09.

• The average audience size for the Sunset Theater was approximately 500 people/performance.

• A total of 76,000 people attended the Sunset Theater and 42,115 people used non-theater venues, namely Babcock, Bingham, Carpenter Hall, Chapman, MEG, Green Room, Lobby, Plaza, Rehearsal Room, Studio 105 (old gym) and Terrace, a grand total of 118,115 people attended the Sunset Center.

• All Sunset Center venues had YTD Totals of 1076 (FY 2007/08) and 1486 (FY 2008/09); the Theater had YTD Totals of 150 (FY 2007/08) and 152 (FY 2008/09).

• Studio 105 has been repainted, et cetera. It was identified as an underutilized venue. Potential uses for Studio 105 are conferences and/or a Bistro, according to Chairman Jim Price.

• Of the 132 Total Awards and $23,393,000 Total Awards Amount awarded in 2008 for the Arts by The James Irvine Foundation, Sunset Cultural Center, Inc. was awarded $300,000 over three years for the purpose of improving “organizational financial stability, management, governance and growth capacity.”

Sunset Cultural Center, Inc.
www.sunsetcenter.org
Carmel-by-the-Sea

Program Area: Arts
Awarded: October 2008
Region Served: Central Coast Region
Grant Amount: $300,000
Grant Term: 36 months

To improve organizational financial stability, management, governance and growth capacity, as part of the Arts Regional Initiative.