SEQUIM — A shortage of private donations has forced the city to cancel the movie portion of the 2012 Music and Movies in the Park series after five summer seasons at the James Center for the Performing Arts bandshell.
The live music half of the show at the city’s Water Reuse Demonstration Park will go on, said Bobby Usselman, assistant city clerk, after the city received only about $4,000 after weeks of fundraising.
It will be Music in the Park on Tuesday nights, Usselman said, “unless we receive some big donation that gives enough money for a movie.”
The city subsidized the bring-your-own-chair movie event last year, but Usselman said tightening city budget requirements prevented that from happening again.
City officials had sought sponsorships that include:
— One music show and movie, $3,000.
— One movie, $2,600.
— One night of music, $400.
— Any amount.
Setting plans aside for movies at the park, City Clerk Karen Kuznek-Reese will meet with a committee to select the bands for the run of concerts at the park off North Blake Avenue.
“Unfortunately, there are a lot of [nonprofit] groups out there asking for money,” Usselman said, adding that she believes the recession has had much to do with the decline in sponsorships.
Over the past five seasons, the music has started at 6 p.m., followed by movies shown at dusk.
The outdoor program runs from the last week in June through the first week in September.
Major sponsors in the past have included First Federal, Olympic Ambulance, Les Schwab Tire, the now defunct Sequim This Week newspaper and anonymous donors.
Kuznek-Reese can be phoned at 360-681-3428 for further information.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2390, extension 5052 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
