The City of Crossville has made an additional investment beyond its normal annual amount to help the Cumberland County Playhouse (CCP) raise a half-million dollars to battle a financial crisis.
The City has invested $25,000 annually with CCP for the past several years, and the City Council voted to invest an additional $25,000 for the 2011-2012 fiscal year to help the playhouse weather a multi-year economic downturn.
“We have long recognized the positive impact – economic, social and cultural – that the Playhouse has on our community,” said City of Crossville Mayor J.H. Graham. “The Playhouse has been such an identifiable part of Cumberland County and Crossville for so long, and the City is proud to continue our partnership with it, and to help them through these difficult times.
“The Playhouse is recognized as one of the top regional theaters in Tennessee, and one of the finest in the Southeast,” Mayor Graham continued. “I know I speak for the entire City Council in saying we’ve enjoyed our partnership with the Playhouse as it has provided top-notch entertainment to our area, and made such an economic impact. The Playhouse is one of our community’s crown jewels.”
The recession and rising gas prices have made a tough fiscal situation for the nonprofit performing arts nationwide, and for the Crossville landmark, despite what CCP Producing Director Jim Crabtree said have been expense cuts of $1 million since ’08, from $3.5 to $2.5 million. CCP is the only site in the Cumberlands among TN Dept. of Tourist Development’s “Top 50 Attractions,” and the only rural nonprofit named a “Major Cultural Institution” by the TN Arts Commission. CCP is one of the few major state nonprofits funding both programs and facilities, and has run on 85% earned income since 1965, versus national nonprofit arts group averages of 50 to 60%.
Cumberland County Playhouse.
The crisis prompts CCP’s Board of Directors to lead a fundraising campaign – ”The Show Must Go On” – to stabilize and strengthen the 46-year-old theater. The campaign has raised over $100K in private gifts, to fight recession now, and build stability for future fiscal storms, via stronger marketing, fund-raising, endowment, and reserves. Several Tennessee foundations have invited CCP applications. The general short-term goal is $500K.
“The Playhouse is a wonderful source of entertainment, and has a strong positive economic impact on all our community, even if you’ve never visited it,” said Randy Graham, President/CEO of First National Bank of Tennessee. “It’s a magnet for consumers to visit our restaurants, purchase fuel, shop and stay overnight, all of which creates and retains jobs while generating tax revenues.
“Cumberland County is #1 in Upper Cumberland tourism dollars, and the Play-house is a major component in this,” bank president Graham said. “I know many current residents who relocated here after a CCP visit. Many buy homes, vehicles, attend our churches, and fuel our economy. CCP also offers our youth opportunities. So is there an investment return in helping CCP? Absolutely.”
Economic impact
In a letter to the City Council in early 2011, Crabtree outlined results of a study by the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center. Highlights include:
• Local economic impact of $9 to $10 million, with 253 jobs generated,
• Over $350,000 local sales/lodging taxes generated by CCP and customers,
• 130,000 total visits per year, including 50,000 local (with10,000 students
―one of the state’s largest non-profit audiences),
• Volunteer participation for 400+ retirees, working over 14,000 hours per year.
• CCP serves as a recruiting tool for new industry, retirees and physicians.
Another study shows 89% of CCP visitors eat out here, with 41% shopping and buying gas. One in five stay over one or more days. “CCP helps generate retire-ment relocation, builds real estate values and draws new business and profes-
sionals.” Crabtree said to city officials. “Local firms see this, support CCP with $100K annual sponsorship, and buy thousands of tickets.”
Crabtree said records show tickets sold in all 95 TN counties and 49 states, most in Georgia, Kentucky and Alabama. Knox Co.(TN) sales exceed 10K, with many in Putnam, Overton, Hamilton, Davidson, White, Anderson and Fentress Counties.
To give, invest in the Playhouse’s regional impact, or buy tickets for family and friends, mail to PO Box 484, Crossville, TN 38557, or call (931) 484-5000.
