Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – The National Philharmonic says the rent at Strathmore is getting to be unaffordable. The rent increased 5 percent in 2017 according to a quarterly report on the National Philharmonic filed with Montgomery County. The increase does not include the cost of office space.
The price hike has led the National Philharmonic to cut the number of performances at Strathmore, which is its home, because performing there is cutting into the orchestra’s profits according to the report.
Montgomery County Health and Human Services Committee member George Leventhal said the affordability of the rent at Strathmore will likely come up today when the committee does its quarterly review of the National Philharmonic’s finances Monday.
“We want Strathmore to thrive, but if the rents are meaning that arts organizations aren’t able to sustain themselves, then that’s a problem,” Leventhal said.
Leventhal said if the county asks Strathmore to lower its rents, Strathmore will likely ask the county for more money. He said that’s a conversation he’s open to having.
The committee has been reviewing the National Philharmonic’s progress improving its financial situation since the county agreed to supplement the orchestra’s budget two years ago when it was having financial difficulties.
Since then, Leventhal said the orchestra’s has done a good job getting itself in better financial shape by running a tighter ship and growing its audience.
The orchestra was created in 2003 and took up residence at Strathmore when it opened in February of 2005. The state-of-the-art music center is owned by the county but run by a private organization.
Copyright 2017 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: nationalphilharmonic.org)
