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Peninsula Lively Arts will be shutting its doors by summer, the company announced in a press release on Friday afternoon.
The 59-year-old organization included the professional dance company Peninsula Ballet Theatre and a dance school serving youth and adults. The company’s regular season typically featured shows in fall and spring, as well as its signature hip-hop and traditional “Nutcracker” productions during the holidays. For the last four years, the company also hosted the Peninsula International Dance Festival in the summer.
Peninsula Lively Arts’ board voted last month to dissolve the organization by June 30, according to the release.
The organization had shown signs of distress this fall, forgoing its regular “Hip-Hop Halloween” dance production staged each October, and in November, announcing a campaign seeking to raise $150,0000 to ensure that its annual traditional and hip-hop productions of the “Nutcracker” ballet could go forward.
Although it didn’t reach the $150,000 mark, the campaign raised sufficient funds to stage the shows. But at the time, interim executive director Debbie Chinn noted that the organization faced a steep challenge, as it had not established the type of fundraising program that many arts companies often rely on. Strong relationships with an established pool of donors can offer groups more financial stability than ticket sales, which can be unpredictable.
That longstanding issue was cited in Friday’s press release.
“Like many longstanding arts organizations, PLA has historically relied heavily on tuition and performance revenue to support its programming. While that model sustained decades of meaningful artistic work and community impact, the environment for nonprofit arts organizations has changed significantly,” the release said.
Additionally, the company stood to lose its studio space, with the San Mateo shopping center where its studios are located slated for redevelopment in 2027, according to the release. Although company leadership explored other options for smaller spaces, the real estate market proved too pricey for the company to afford a move.
Peninsula Lively Arts plans to continue operating its dance school through the spring, with classes, rehearsals and a final student performance in June expected to go ahead.
Last month, the company presented what would be its final production, the Valentine-themed “Love Is Love” in Mountain View.
For more information or to read the company announcement, visit peninsulalivelyarts.org.
