Teatro di Locarno: more funding sought from public authorities

Context

TL;DR

• More than one hundred members at the assembly on Thursday evening
• Deficit of approximately 55'000 francs in the 2025/26 season
• The deficit was covered with the association's assets
• More support requested from public bodies

Key facts

• Place → Locarno city theatre
• Association → Friends of the Theater of Locarno
• Secretary → Athos Mecca
• Deficit → approximately 55,000 francs
• Accounting season → 2025/26
• Subscribers → over 400
• President → Diego Erba
• Artistic director → Paolo Crivellaro

In Locarno, the annual meeting of the «Friends of the Theater of Locarno» Association brought together over one hundred members in the city theater on Thursday evening. The meeting was dedicated to the future of the prose seasons and the financial sustainability of the cultural offer in the Locarno area.

The secretary Athos Mecca opened the proceedings, presenting the accounts for the 2025/26 season. The picture that emerged was difficult especially due to the reduction in contributions from public bodies. To make up the deficit of around 55,000 francs, the association's social assets were drawn upon.

The data brought the continuity of the association's activity to the center of the meeting, which does not only concern the closing of the season's accounts but also the sustainability of the following years. Mecca summarized the prospect in clear words, warning that, if revenues continued to not cover costs, the association's activity could cease within a few years.

The reference to the financial sustainability of the cultural offering was thus linked to the discussion on the future of the prose seasons. The assembly found itself having to evaluate the stability of the association while the social assets were used to cover the negative result of the season.

During the meeting, the auditors Daniele Bianchetti and Gianni Gnesa were also reconfirmed. Their mandate was confirmed together with the continuation of the discussion on the financing of theatrical activity, which remained linked to the reduction of public contributions and the need to keep revenues in relation to costs.

The picture given to the members is therefore that of an association that covered the deficit of the 2025/26 season, but which considers the continuity of revenue a condition to avoid the interruption of the activity within a few years. The request for greater public support arises from the situation illustrated during the meeting in the city theater.

Operational details

The quality of the offering and possible future scenarios

Artistic director Paolo Crivellaro presented the new theatre season with the aid of images. In his address, he emphasized the high quality of the offering, a proposal greatly appreciated by the more than 400 subscribers and the audience.

After the artistic presentation, the discussion focused on the prospects for the programming of Teatro di Locarno. Diego Erba, president of the Associazione, recalled the economic difficulties that the organization has faced for years and asked public bodies to increase their support.

The appeal concerned the Fondazione per la cultura nel Locarnese and the Città, which owns the theatre. The discussion also considered the role of the other municipalities, called upon to assess the value of the theatre seasons for the region.

The possibilities examined during the assembly were several:

These possibilities showed the various ways put on the table to address the shortage of funds. On the one hand, the possibility of scaling back the programming was considered, by changing the number of performances or the evenings scheduled for each event. On the other hand, recourse to the association's assets remained an option, having already been used to cover the season's deficit.

Many members emphasized the value of the theatre in the Locarnese and asked for public contributions to be strengthened. The assembly therefore unanimously approved a resolution addressed to the Fondazione per la cultura, the Città and the other municipalities.

The document calls on these bodies to ensure greater support and reaffirms the cultural value of the theatre seasons for the region. The vote gave a shared form to the request that emerged during the debate, alongside the presentation of the new season and confirmation of the appreciation expressed by the subscribers and the audience.

Key points

The commitment for the coming seasons

The organizers have confirmed their commitment to ensuring the upcoming theater seasons. The Association indicated that, if necessary, it may use its assets to cover deficits and continue supporting its activities.

The announced decision aims to maintain the program despite the financial situation outlined during the assembly. The goal remains to offer quality performances with realistic, pluralistic and diverse storytelling, in accordance with the association’s statutes.

Programming tied to the statutes

The organizers’ confirmation links the future of the seasons to the possibility of maintaining the association’s cultural commitment. The association’s assets are identified as a resource to be used if the finances make it necessary, while the artistic program remains focused on quality and variety in storytelling.

The message addressed to public institutions and the commitment undertaken internally by the Association therefore move in the same direction: supporting the continuation of the seasons and preserving the cultural value recognized in Teatro per il Locarnese. The confirmation concerns the upcoming seasons and leaves the association responsible for continuing to present performances according to the principles set out in its statutes.

As is tradition, the evening ended with the performance «Ostinata con brio» by Federica Molteni, presented to attendees and the local community and dedicated to Antonia Brico, the first woman to gain international recognition as an orchestra conductor.

The performance was warmly received. The meeting thus concluded by pairing the discussion of funding with a moment from the theater program, intended both for the assembly participants and the local community.

Source: tio.ch