THE WANG, THE COOLIDGE AND THE NON-PROFIT MISSION
It was with dismay last year that the non-profit Wang Center kicked out a major local cultural institution, The Boston Ballet, to b ring in a road company version of The Rockettes Christmas show. It was also with some sadness that I saw that the Coolidge was playine one film, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, that is playuing at l5 theatres in the Boston area, an another, HOTEL RWANDA, that is playing at seven.
In the case of the Wang, lit has brought in blockbuster touring shows before, the Andrew lloyd Webber stuff and the like, lbut crass commercialism like the Rockettes should raaise aneyebrow or two at grant giving sources. It is true that the Wang does have little publicized educati9nal programs and some outreach, but The Rockettes - really!
At least with the Coolidge, these are quality films, and they have the screening room where they have quality smaller films exclusively, like TO BE AND TO HAVE, etc. And, as much as any other venue, they have programs and special events that serve both the Brookline community and the independent film and video community. They have recently converted their old office space into something of a classroom, and for years they have been the home of Video Balagan
And both venues have done a wonderful job of restoration.
And both venues have high overheads at a time when grant money is slowly drying up. They have to pay attention to the bottom line. But at both non-profit venues the image is fading that they are presenting something truly special.
In the case of the Wang, lit has brought in blockbuster touring shows before, the Andrew lloyd Webber stuff and the like, lbut crass commercialism like the Rockettes should raaise aneyebrow or two at grant giving sources. It is true that the Wang does have little publicized educati9nal programs and some outreach, but The Rockettes - really!
At least with the Coolidge, these are quality films, and they have the screening room where they have quality smaller films exclusively, like TO BE AND TO HAVE, etc. And, as much as any other venue, they have programs and special events that serve both the Brookline community and the independent film and video community. They have recently converted their old office space into something of a classroom, and for years they have been the home of Video Balagan
And both venues have done a wonderful job of restoration.
And both venues have high overheads at a time when grant money is slowly drying up. They have to pay attention to the bottom line. But at both non-profit venues the image is fading that they are presenting something truly special.
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