By Cliff Bellamy

cbellamy@heraldsun.com; 419-67441

DURHAM -- In Durham, the arts have become more than a fringe benefit or amenity. Durham has linked the revitalization and economic development of its downtown to a thriving arts and entertainment culture.

In 2009, Durham's nonprofit arts organizations had to reduce programming and tighten their belts as they coped with the fallout from the economic downturn.

For 2010, nonprofit arts groups will continue to find ways to do their work in the community, and, when the economy picks up, perhaps expand.

Organizations locally reported in 2009 reductions in grants and corporate funding. The American Dance Festival, which last summer faced an estimated deficit of $275,000, finally broke even through a combination of budget reductions, increased ticket sales and pleas to audiences and the public. The Carolina Theatre of Durham also ended the fiscal year in the black, but not without restructuring and staff reductions.

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival also ended the year in the black, but The New York Times pulled out as a presenting sponsor for the annual festival.

The Durham Arts Council, the Orange County Arts Commission, Durham Art Guild and other organizations coped with similar reductions in contributions, grants or gallery sales.

Locally and across the state, arts groups did report some upbeat trends. Amid the downturn or loss of large donations, some organizations reported an increase in smaller individual contributions. Many organizations also reported higher ticket sales, a trend that was continuing by year's end.

Officials with arts groups cited a number of strategies for 2010 -- among them, seeking to increase ticket sales, working to increase paying memberships, and doing more one-on-one contact to get new subscribers and keep current ones.