Thirty years ago the founders of the Sandisfield Arts Center defined a simple mission for this new non-profit organization: To preserve our historic building and provide cultural and educational programs for our community.

Over those three decades, we've managed to do that without either going broke or piling up excess cash. The "fiduciary responsibility" of every Arts Center Board member is a balancing act between operating costs - averaging around $40,000 a year - and income. We thought that you, our community, might be interested in understanding how that breaks out.

What are our operating expenses?

Operating expenses are the day-to-day costs that keep us running. Some you'd probably think of - utilities, grounds maintenance, performer fees, part-time bookkeeper and house manager. Others may be less obvious: lift and fire inspections, insurance, subscriptions (website, QuicklBooks), minor building repairs, office supplies, cleaning fees, memberships like the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, publicity, some basic refreshments. (Capital expenses - one time investments like major repairs or the renovations of the last year - are different.)

Volunteer working contributions keep costs low: Although expenses add up to about $40,000 a year, there's at least as much "in kind" work done by our Board members and volunteers: event greeters, parkers, a/v operators, reception hosts, and cleanup crew; our treasurer managing our finances and reports; overseeing the building and grounds; sending eblasts, creating program handouts; webmastering; donating refreshments for events; and writing and administering the grants that help balance the books.

If this were a regular business without volunteers, annual operating expenses would be closer to $80,000.

What is our income?

As in similar organizations, annual income is a combination of donations (from our supporters and our audience), small grants such as from the Sandisfield Cultural Council, and ticket revenue. Our five-year average for event income shows around $10,000 a year, so ticket prices cover only about 25 percent of costs.

Tickets: A mix of free and paid events, with a mix of prices

We have three main goals in planning events: Offer varied programs of interest to our diverse community, especially families, with as many free or low-cost events as possible, without neglecting our "fiduciary responsibility" to keep the Arts Center on sound footing.

This season is a snapshot of how we do that.

Pumpkin Painting and Open House - Free! October 26 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm.

Eleven free events, plus three open-house art receptions

These included Singing Sandisfield's Unsung Heroes, Horses in Words (book authors and Sunny Rose Farm), 4 Friday Open Mics, International Art Film Festival Part One and Part Two, Pumpkin Painting and Open House (October 26), and Simon Reads (Simon Winchester Nov 29). Thanks to our hardworking Gallery committee, the three gallery opening receptions are always free and open to everyone.

Five Saturday morning talks and workshops at $10, the same price for over a decade

Dave Maswick and Joel Brown Concert October 4 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

Three popular performances at $25

This price level has been the same for over ten years, in spite of rising performer fees, for a piano recital and Dave Maswick and Joel Brown (October 4). The Sandisfield Cultural Council funding has helped us keep the price low for the popular Maswick and Brown folk music performance, and provide complementary tickets for Council on Aging members and others. But with rising costs, we may have to raise this "price point" in the future.

The Headless Horseman, an Old-Time Radio Mystery Hour from the Sandisfield Players on October 25 , is a family-friendly event, so adults are $25, but teens are $10 and children 12 and under are free.

Three special events at $40

Forty dollars - still significantly lower than the average price at many Berkshire venues -- allowed us to present a nationally-known comedian, Seth Herzog; cover the fee and time for a mushroom expert, and (coming up November 8) the entertainment, food and drink provided at the Hard Cider Tasting.

Hard Cider Tasting conducted by Tom Christopher with Music by Sally Terrell and Chris Casey November 8 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm.

Two annual fundraisers

For the Evening of Song (Sept 13), a big-city quality event, performers either donate their time or greatly reduce their fee. And like most non-profits, we have an annual "gala" fundraiser with a Board member chef and volunteers donating food and time.

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The bottom line: With your help volunteering, attending, donating when you can, and providing advice on what you'd like to see, we believe the Arts Center can maintain our sound financial footing for our mission to continue for the next 30 years, and more.