Utah Festival Opera still strong in rough times

Utah Festival Opera is experiencing a surge in ticket sales, which has been a bright spot in an otherwise stormy month.

UFO made headlines in May after director Michael Ballam went to the Cache County Council asking for $400,000 RAPZ/Restaurant Tax program. That led to reports that the festival was in deficit.

"Utah Festival Opera has never had a deficit season in its 17 years," Ballam said. "Deficit is a dangerous word to toss around in the arts."

Ballam noted that in light of the firestorm, the festival has seen a few major donors withdraw support, "which has been devastating. And it's all based on a wrong information and misunderstanding."

UFO has a number of income sources including ticket sales, its boutique, an apartment complex, rental buildings and a stock portfolio.

"We have gotten through every year with a zero balance utilizing income from all five sources," Ballam said.

Ballam's hope in going to the council was to protect UFO's portfolio. "I just didn't want to tap the portfolio this year, because, like everybody else's, it's worth half as much as last year at this time."

"This has been really devastating to me," he said, adding that he was grateful for the $150,000 the council did give the festival, "which was very helpful. What was not helpful was how it has been perceived in reports."

"I just worry that the people of Logan are disheartened and confused," Ballam said.

UFO is the single largest infusion of resources through northern Utah and, "as summertime goes," Ballam added, "we're the largest seasonal employer in Cache County." The festival employs roughly 300 to 400 people every season. "Most of that money stays in Logan," he said.

"I would dare say we are as solvent as any arts organization as has existed in Utah in the past 17 years," he said. "We were just trying to avoid using our stock portfolio in this very difficult year."

e-mail: ehansen@desnews.com