Friday, October 7, 2011

Pittsburgh Arts Watch Alert: Treat Stagehands Fairly

repost from pghartswatch.org

STOP GREED NOW

TREAT STAGEHANDS FAIRLY

Eyes on the Arts has issued a “Donor Alert” over the Cultural Trusts treatment of its own Stagehands. A new web site has been created (www.PghArtsWatch.org) for both workers and donors to peruse and become familiar on the financial matters of the Cultural Trust and its resident companies, the Pittsburgh, Ballet, Pittsburgh Opera, and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.

EYES on the ARTS is urging the Cultural Trust’s President and Board of Directors to issue reforms to the organization that provides greater transparency and accountability to Stagehands and donors. The Cultural Trust has amassed 120 million in total net assets. 87 million are unrestricted. In recent years the Cultural Trust has increased top executive salaries exponentially and now pays over $600,000 and $250,000 to its top staff.

The Cultural Trust now operates the First Night Celebration, the Three Rivers Arts Festival, Jazz Festival, Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh and Gallery Crawls and continues to ignore its own workforce of Stagehands that have been in place for over 24 years. The same Stagehands that construct, build, and make the magic happen for the entertainment industry within the Pittsburgh Cultural district at the Benedum Center, Byham Theater, Heinz Hall, the O’Reilly Theater, The Cabaret Theater, Katz Plaza and others. The same Stagehands who are an integral part of making the Cultural District a success and a premiere destination for entertainment.

The Cultural Trust’s continued actions and blatant disregard for the use of its own Stagehands for the Cultural Trust First Night Celebration is apparent to its workforce and can be seen as none other than an attack. Plan to send a clear message to the Cultural Trust this December 31st First Night and join in a show of support with Stagehands. More information will be made available as the event gets closer. Please sign up and join the mailing list at EYES on the ARTS - www.PghArtsWatch.org

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20,2007. pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.

the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly.

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