In the Arts: Flood-Repair Bill Mounts at Nashville Symphony Hall

The Nashville Symphony’s home venue will remain closed until January due to the estimated $42-million in damage from last month’s floods, says The Tennessean.

Even with insurance and federal aid, the orchestra will have to raise $3-million to $10-million more to repair Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the symphony’s chief executive, Alan Valentine, said. More than 5 million gallons of water poured into the venue’s basement during the May 1 and 2 flooding.

A benefit concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Tuesday night featuring some of country music’s biggest stars and a surprise performance by Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock raised more than $2-million for flood-relief efforts, The New York Times says.

In other arts news, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art will end the current fiscal year with a $300,000 surplus and plans to increase spending about 11 percent next year, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The museum, which was roiled by financial tumult in recent years as the market crash slashed its endowment by 41 percent, has removed its hiring freeze and anticipates raising $33-million in 2010-11 after taking in $29-million to balance its operating books this year.

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