At noon Aug. 25, several dozen stakeholders in the Arkansas Arts Center skipped lunch to hear Robert Burnett and executive director Todd Herman paint the financial picture of the center. Burnett gave the treasurer's report and promised to be brief and boring -- both of which were well-received.
Herman discussed the center's revenue for the last fiscal year, which ended June 30. Total revenue was more than $6.2 million. About $2.4 million (38.4 percent) came from donor contributions, the overwhelming majority (more than $2 million) from gifts and sponsorships. Less than $2.2 million (34.7 percent) came from the center's foundation (more than $1.4 million), the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock, and the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau. Almost $1.3 million (20.7 percent) was earned -- ticket sales, Children's Theater, the Museum School and youth programs, and facility rentals and catering commission. About $377,000 (6 percent) came from the museum shop and other sales.
This is the fourth year the center ends its fiscal year in the black.
Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola recognized outgoing trustees, including Janet Alley, Barbara Hoover, Dr. Ricardo Sotomora, Dr. Scott Davis, Lisa Baxter and Walter Quinn. Then Charlotte "Chucki" Bradbury got up and welcomed incoming board members Pat Wilson and Michael Shelley, reappointed trustees Albert Braunfisch and Merritt Dyke. Finally, she named former trustees who've died over the last year -- Edward Penick Sr., Theodosia Murphy Nolan, Carol Ann Penick, Ruby McCaskill Smith and Diane Stoakes Mackey.
The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Winthrop Rockefeller Memorial Award to Bradbury, who was tearful and humble and thanked everyone. Her husband, Curt, was given the award exactly 20 years earlier.
The award goes back to 1973. The first recipient was Townsend Wolfe, for whom a gallery at the center is named.
When it was all over everyone enjoyed a buffet lunch of chicken, steak, several kinds of salad and bite-size desserts.
High Profile on 09/07/2014