Supported by the Community
Emily informed me that the Festival has an annual budget of 1.6 million dollars. I asked if corporate sponsorship plays a large role in this budget and was surprised to learn that it, along with grants from local foundations and government funding, only account for forty percent of this budget. The remaining sixty percent, or $960,000, comes from donations. She noted that at each concert, volunteers walk through the crowds to take donations. The suggested donation is ten dollars.
The Festival relies on volunteers help to reduce operating costs. All sorts of people volunteer, from school children, to retired residents, and even people with regular weekday jobs who just want to help. Sometimes the musicians will help by performing for free or for a very low fee. However, for the most part, the performing groups are paid normally, and this is where the bulk of the budget goes. The remainder of the budget goes to outreach programs and administration.
A Diverse Crowd
The Stern Grove Music Festival attracts a diverse audience. When I went to the Grove I was mostly expecting retired and middle aged people. While these groups were present, they were not in the majority. Many people were either families with children or people in their early twenties to late thirties. Most of the families had several children who were under the age of twelve. No one demographic dominated, and everyone seemed to have a good time. For more detailed information on the people who were sitting around me, click here.
A Valuable Asset
Overall, the community supported Stern Grove Music Festival is a tremendous resource. There are few free concerts offered anywhere in the United States that have a schedule as extensive or talent of equal caliber to Stern Grove. The Grove beginnings as a free gift to the City of San Francisco and its ability to survive for 63 years on mostly community donations paints the Bay Area in a positive light. It is a reflection of a culturally education population and helps to ensure that future generations will be culturally adept as well.
Links
A closer look at who was there.
The Summer 2000 Schedule of Concerts
A first hand account of one of the concerts
Sources