The financial crisis facing the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Stage, the Charleston Ballet Theatre and other local arts groups demands that these organizations take "creative" to a new level.

It is vital to the community that they find new ways to navigate through immediate financial distress and also to make changes so that they will be able to cope with future vagaries of the economy.

Financial hardship is not new to arts groups here and elsewhere. The CSO has come close to failing several times. The uncertainty of swinging from growth to financial distress, back to growth and again to financial distress is painful to the performers. It also erodes the public confidence and support necessary for these organizations to survive for the long term. ...

By treating yourself to some fine entertainment, you will also be helping these groups continue. You will be contributing to the economic health as well as the artistic life of the Lowcountry.

The (Charleston) Post and Courier