Arts scene benefits from Houston economic boom

The Chronicle's Charles Ward reports that Houston's booming economy means boom times for the city's arts scene as well:

Houstonians may complain about $3-per-gallon gasoline, but managers of the city's major performing-arts groups have to be smiling about the good fortune the current oil boom is bringing them.

Society for the Performing Arts has already sold a whopping 58 percent more tickets (or seats) through season subscriptions compared to this time last season. Houston Grand Opera is up 43 percent.

Six of the seven major ensembles that perform in downtown theaters have experienced growth in subscription sales for the 2007-08 season compared to the 2006-07 season. Only Da Camera has seen a decline.

Arts managers have done a lot right this year with programming, marketing, pricing and customer service. But the real reason the hard work is paying off is the city's economy.

"Houston's booming," said University of Houston economist Barton Smith, and the biggest reason is the energy business.

"During times of boom, not only are we adding jobs and population but entrepreneurial income — upper-middle-class and upper-class income — is growing proportionally faster.

"What you're observing with regards to the arts is very typical of Houston during (a) boom period."

Houston is still very much an energy city, and when the energy industry is humming (as it is now), Houston arts certainly benefit.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 09/13/07 10:53 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Sphere | Comments (0)

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