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Taking One for the Team
Torontoist has learned that Luminato staff will be taking a 5% pay cut next year. In a phone call yesterday, Publicity Coordinator Daniel Davidzon confirmed that a few weeks ago the organization reluctantly decided that a wage reduction was necessary. The pay cut applies to all staff, including CEO Janice Price, and will likely be in effect until July 31, 2009 (the end of Luminato’s fiscal year)—though it appears that the organization is still hoping that the cuts can be reversed sooner than that. The move appears to be precautionary, an attempt to keep the books in good order, rather than a symptom of deeper troubles. As Davidzon explained it, Luminato feels such a step is necessary in the face of a worsening economic climate that is proving challenging for the arts community across the country. No further cost-cutting measures are currently being considered, however, and all programming and events are proceeding as planned.
While Luminato is clearly feeling the pinch to some degree, they give every indication of faring well overall. None of their corporate or individual donors have retracted any promised funds, and their substantial government support has already been paid out. Luminato was the recipient of a somewhat controversial fifteen million dollar provincial grant earlier this year; the money is to support future growth and does not seem to be in danger. “Nothing’s looking too bad right now,” said Mr. Davidzon, but “we did feel like it was the prudent thing to be doing.”
Photo by The Illtelligent from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.