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Saturday, July 19, 2003

By Caroline Abels, Post-Gazette Cultural Arts Writer

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has requested $1.5 million in 2004 operating support from the Allegheny Regional Asset District -- nearly double what it received this year.

The PSO, which has been strained by significant deficits since last year, received a $725,000 RAD operating grant for 2003. It had requested $900,000. In 2002, it received $700,000 in operating funds.

Between 1997 and 2001, RAD awarded the PSO a total of $1.3 million in operating funds, in addition to $4,450,000 in capital grants. The capital grants, earmarked for renovations to Heinz Hall, were the fulfillment of a promise made by city and county officials in 1994 that the PSO would receive $4 million in public money to shore up its finances.

The RAD board will hold hearings on all annual grant requests beginning Sept. 2.