Carnegie Hall Drops Current Season, Revises Future Operations

With non-essential businesses shuttered and New York on pause at least through April 29, Carnegie Hall recently cancelled all remaining performances of its 2019-20 season and expects to make changes to next season’s 170-concert schedule as well. Anticipating a $9 million operating deficit to its $104 million budget for the current fiscal year ending June 30, the venue is also preparing to adjust overall future programming and operations to align with declining economic conditions.   

“Given Carnegie Hall’s primary commitment to the health and safety of the public, its artists, and staff, we had no choice other than to close the hall through the end of the season in light of this ongoing crisis,” says Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s executive and artistic director, in an announcement. “While it is deeply disappointing not to be able to welcome our artists and concertgoers back this season, our team continues to work tirelessly to develop meaningful new ways to continue to connect with audiences, bringing the power and inspiration of music to people everywhere at a time when we all need it more than ever.”

All of Carnegie Hall’s live events have been cancelled through July, including in-person educational programming presented by the operation’s Weill Music Institute and all free Carnegie Hall performances held in various venues throughout the city. Activities offered through the Resnick Education Wing were also cancelled. 

Patrons who purchased tickets to an event that has been cancelled can check the company’s website for detailed information. While many tickets purchased by credit card have already been refunded, those still pending a refund are eligible for donation at face value to Carnegie Hall. Concertgoers may also email feedback@carnegiehall.org by April 15 to apply credit balances to future ticket purchases through June 30, 2021 and by June 30 to request a cash refund if tickets were purchased by cash at the box office.

“I want to thank everyone in the Carnegie Hall family for their extraordinary commitment to helping us ensure that we do our very best to secure the future of our unique institution, and devise how best to start building back to an even better future in the face of the most traumatic of times for everyone across the entire nation and around the world,” says Gillinson. “I know that our shared vision and shared passion for the central importance of music in everyone’s lives, along with the support of the public, will help us stay the course, guiding us to a place where Carnegie Hall will continue to thrive, delivering on its promise of bringing the best in music and music education to people all across the country and around the world.”

Carnegie Hall is offering various virtual experiences to the public. Streaming free of charge through April 8, “Re-Joyce!” features Perspectives artist mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, who ledmaster classes from 2016-19 at the hall.  

Not even the Great Recession caused such a decline for the performing arts community as the pandemic already has. With no official end to social distancing yet in sight, numerous arts organizations have launched local and national efforts to support performers, staff and venue operations. The CARES Act is allowing the National Endowment for the Arts to distribute $75 million in relief aid to nonprofit arts organizations in need.  

According to Statista, performing arts industry revenue for companies in the U.S. grew steadily from $13.77 in 2013 to $17.86 billion in 2019. The trend, now broken by the pandemic, was forecast to reach $19.29 billion in 2023. 

Data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts shows that the arts and culture sector adds significant value to the U.S. economy, specifically five times more than that of agriculture. In fact, arts and culture surpassed construction and transportation/warehousing by $87 billion and $265 billion respectively. 

“In this time of great economic uncertainty, I am grateful to the Members of Congress and the President for recognizing the contributions of the arts to our nation and our economy and the devastation and job loss that this virus has wreaked upon the arts community,” says National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter. “With the agency’s experience in disaster recovery, economic crises mitigation, and distributing relief funds, the Arts Endowment will deliver assistance to help retain as many jobs as possible and keep the doors open to the thousands of organizations that add value to America’s economy and the creative life of our communities.”