Revenue for the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) fell by half in 2021, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and a months-long closure as the nearly 95-year-old facility sustained its first deficit in almost a decade.

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In recent years, the UCPAC has been about a million-dollar-a-year operation, at least before the pandemic. The Irving Street center closed for the about five months in 2021, including the final three of the fiscal year covered by the latest tax form.

Revenue dropped by 57 percent, from $1.425 million in 2020 to almost $607,000 last year, with ticket sales plummeting from $618,240 in 2020 to just $12,821 in 2021. Theatre rental revenue also dropped by a third, from $590,148 to $398,745. Expenses ($776,605) outpaced revenues ($606,904) by $169,701. That’s the first deficit for UCPAC since 2014 when expenses were more than revenue by $86,592. Here’s a more detailed look at revenue and expense categories in the latest fiscal year.

The figures come from the most recent Form 990, required to be filed each year by nonprofits. Brian Remo is listed as past executive director, with an annual salary of $81,153. Craig Sumberg, who was hired as executive director in September 2021 but left in April 2022, is listed as executive director but no salary. Deanna Hunt started as executive director in October.

The latest tax form for UCPAC was signed and filed in November 2021 for the tax year that covered July 2020 to June 2021. Nonprofit tax forms typically are due no later than 5 1/2 months after the fiscal year ends (in UCPAC’s case, the year ends June and forms are due Nov. 15). That means the the 2022 tax form was due this month and likely to be available via GuideStar in the coming months.

The 1,334-seat arts center opened in 1928 and underwent a $6-million expansion and renovation in 2008 after being acquired by Union County in 2006 for $1.3 million and leased back to UCPAC.

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