SYMPHONY GRANT PROPOSAL DENIED

The California Arts Council rejected a grant proposal from the Orange County Pacific Symphony this week, revising the orchestra’s grant status and the amount of money that it can be awarded under the agency’s rules.

The Santa Ana-based orchestra had applied for $103,000 in the council’s support to prominent organizations category. But because the orchestra’s annual operating budget was found to be less than the $1 million needed to qualify, it was placed in a different category. In the new category, the Orange County orchestra will probably be eligible for a maximum of $50,000.

In its original grant application, the orchestra had included $550,000 in revenues from advance ticket sales for its 1986-87 season as part of its $1.5 million budget for fiscal 1985-86. The arts council, however, does allow advance sales revenues to be considered under its accounting system.

In a prepared statement, Arts Council Director Robert H. Reid said Friday: “Despite this change in status, the Pacific Symphony can still be considered for funding this year, although it will be outside our formal review process. With Pacific Symphony’s understanding, our staff will work with the arts council to arrive at a fair outcome, which we hope will be approved at the arts council’s Aug. 29 public meeting.”

Pacific Symphony executive director Louis Spisto said Friday, “The change means very little. The size of the grant will not be affected greatly. We will basically wait one more year (for a change in status). I don’t see it as any problem.”