SNB Receives Treasured Support for Coppélia

Published July 31, 2026

SNB Receives Treasured Support for Coppélia

The present economic situation in our country has seriously impacted the arts and every arts organization all over the nation. What does this mean? Is this the beginning of the end for the arts in the US? My opinion is that it could be, if all of us do not work hard to make certain that our arts organizations are able to continue.

Gas prices are up and the cost of groceries is on the rise. That means people’s disposable income is shrinking. As an example, using calculations from the Economic Policy Institute: an average family of 2 adults and 2 children in Washoe County annually needs $20,668 for housing; $13,552 for food; $23,843 for child care; $18,060 for transportation; $18,060 for healthcare; $15,846 for taxes; leaving only $10,624 for anything else. That means they must have a minimum annual income of $120,828 in order to have disposable income. Other areas of the state are more expensive. That is the way it is across the USA. Massachusetts ranks as the most expensive state to live in while Nevada ranks 16^th.

Where does that leave the arts? With such a small amount of disposable income for the average person, the survival of the arts is becoming more and more dependent on grants and donations by generous philanthropists. There are presently 50 givers in the country who signed the pledge, “To give the majority of their wealth to charitable causes in their lifetime or wills.”

To quote Andrew Carnegie: “The man who dies rich dies disgraced.”

Having givers dedicated to helping charitable organizations is wonderful but how many consider the arts a top-ranking charitable cause?

During the second half of the nineteenth century in America, there were many influential groups of people devoted to the intellectual, artistic, and spiritual improvement of their communities and (in a popular phrase of the time) “the higher life.”

In the 20^th century, support for the arts transformed from private philanthropy into federal funding through the New Deal programs such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and private corporate foundations and the establishment of the National Endowment for the Arts.

In the 21^st century it appears that many of the wealthiest are more interested in AI than uplifting the country through the arts. That means that all of us who care about the survival of the arts must become more diligent in our support efforts.

Coppélia at the Pioneer Center for Performing Arts on July 25, 2026

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It is wonderful that we live in a great community that not only believes in the arts but actually supports them through The Nevada Arts Council and the City of Reno. But more help is needed.

In March of this year SNB celebrated our 25^th anniversary and our annual summer tradition is to present a large classical story ballet in several venues with top professional dancers from other areas joining our cast. Large ballets are quite expensive to create and with the additional venue rental and tech crew fees, we must depend more and more on ticket revenue.

SNB receives generous yearly support from the Nevada Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Reno, the E.L. Cord Foundation, the Carol Franc Buck Foundation and the Marin Foundation, and has been able to annually present high caliber productions as part of the Artown Festival in Reno for 25 years – presenting one annual mixed concert FREE to the community and one ticketed large story classic at the Pioneer Center (as well as in two other venues).

Due to the present economic situation, free events are becoming more and more popular. The Artown Festival has expanded to include more free events and the Pioneer has added the Dog Days Festival with more free events, it has become more challenging for SNB to offer a ticketed event at the Pioneer in the summer during Artown.

This year, SNB contemplated having to cancel our ticketed $45,000 production of Coppélia at the Pioneer in late July, as there were a large number of free Artown events scheduled for the same time. Our situation was brought to the attention of a wonderful philanthropist in our area devoted to the intellectual, artistic, and spiritual improvement of our community and the survival of SNB. His generous donation allowed SNB to change Coppélia from a ticketed event to a free event and SNB received a standing ovation from a packed house at the Pioneer Center for Performing Arts on July 25, 2026.

This is a perfect example of what is needed as we move forward.

It is my heartfelt opinion that (while in danger in our country) the Arts will survive if enough of us (who care) work hard to support a “higher life” for our community.

For SNB ticket information or information about performances or information about the Sierra Nevada Academy call 775-360-8663 or visit sierranevadaballet.org.