"The challenges of developing audiences and securing contributed income are unending for not-for-profit arts organizations. Recent events ﾝmost notably the recession, the continuing stock market decline and the war on terrorism ﾝhave intensified the demands on institutional leaders in the . Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) has battled furiously over the last few years to maintain its core values and continue its artistic growth while simultaneously confronting both national economic realities and regional socio-demographic conditions that impede its growth. This article examines PBT's history as the Pittsburgh region's only company of resident artists creating new work for local audiences and the steps that PBT's leadership is taking to secure its future."

"In facing both national and local environmental challenges, PBT has determined that new thinking and restructuring are acceptable steps in the process of protecting the legacy and future of the organization, and that retrenchment and simple reduction in scale and scope are not. Understanding the environmental realities and aggressively exploiting the artistic and institutional opportunities within these realities remain the strategic focus of PBT's senior staff and trustees, complemented by a vigilant effort to identify and reduce weaknesses within the company. The status quo ﾝcontinuing to depend upon the traditional audience, traditional funding sources, and traditional repertoire ﾝno longer applies at PBT."

CONTENTSﾝ
Introduction.
Founding and Early Years.
Independence and Growth.
The "Wilde Years".
A Legend Retures...the Tradition Continues.
Institutional and Environmental Realities.
The Unique Challenges of Pittsburgh.
Figure 1: Annual Fund (Unrestricted Operating) Income.
Figure 2: Projected Total Potential Audience.
Figure 3: Rough Projection of Current Market Penetration (Reach).
The "Parallel Strategic Approach".
Conclusion .
Note.
References.

The challenges of developing audiences and securing contributed income are unending for not-for-profit arts organizations. Recent events ﾝmost notably the recession, the continuing stock market decline and the war on terrorism ﾝhave intensified the demands on institutional leaders in the . Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) has battled furiously over the last few years to maintain its core values and continue its artistic growth while simultaneously confronting both national economic realities and regional socio-demographic conditions that impede its growth. This article examines PBT's history as the Pittsburgh region's only company of resident artists creating new work for local audiences and the steps that PBT's leadership is taking to secure its future.