A year after finances took a tumble at the height of the pandemic, the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) reported revenue of more than $2 million thanks to government support and contributions and grants of more than $1 million and a rebound in program revenue.

Become a Patron!
If you find this post valuable, consider making a contribution via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee – or support local news you don’t get anywhere else all year round by becoming a monthly Patron.

UCPAC reported revenue of more than $2.35 million last year, up from just $600,000 the previous year, when it was closed for months due to the pandemic. Much of the $1.7-million increase was due to a jump in government support of more than $1 million and doubling of program service revenue.

Figures come from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990 for the fiscal year running from July 2021 to June 2022, which was signed and filed in October 2022, and became available via GuideStar a few months ago.

The $2.2 million in overall revenue is the most since $1.6 million reported in 2019 and probably the highest reported total in 20 years.

Boost from government support

Typically, UCPAC has received on average about $40,000 in government support over the past five years. Last year, it received more than $1.1 million. Representatives of UCPAC did not reply to questions seeking clarification on specifics of the annual tax form.

The huge jump could be due to federal COVID-19 relief efforts like the $10-billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, or Save Our Stages, a program through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to support “shuttered venue operators” amid the pandemic. A July 2022 report by the SBA indicated 261 initial grants and 212 supplemental grants totaling more than $247 million were awarded in New Jersey but data on individual grants are not on the website.

The UCPAC also received at least $38,000 during 2022 from Union County:

• $28,045 (Resolution 2022-264, March 24) to “produce a theatrical play on June 30, 2022 in recognition of Pride Month.”
• $10,000 (Resolution 2022-587, June 23) for “developing support for the arts in Union County and creating cultural and educational opportunities for Union County residents for calendar year 2022.”

Ticket sales, theatre rental rebound

Program revenue more than doubled, from $411,566 to almost $1 million. Ticket sales rebounded from about $13,000 in the year of the pandemic closure to $345,000 last year. Likewise, theatre rental revenue was $642,734, up from almost $400,000 the previous year.

Program service revenue also probably includes at least part of a $220,000 contract awarded by the city for technical and programming assistance associated with the mayor’s summer concert series, the State of the City address, and other events.

The rise in overall revenue helped net assets to almost triple, $362,404 in 2021 to more than $1 million.

Former Executive Director Craig Sumberg is listed on the tax form as receiving compensation of $97,232. He started as executive director in September 2021 and lasted about eight months. Victoria Durbin-Drake earned $17,400 as interim executive director for that year, according to the tax form. Deanna Hunt, co-founder and CEO of Jersey City-based This Is It! Productions, started as executive director on October 2022.

The UCPAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the 1,334-seat Rahway Theatre, a 1928 Vaudeville era movie house, as well as the 200-seat Hamilton Stage, which was shut down for some 18 months after flooding in the wake of Hurricane Ida two years ago.

Become a Patron!
If you find this post valuable, consider making a contribution via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee – or support local news you don’t get anywhere else all year round by becoming a monthly Patron.