Performance venues in the city should be put under unified management to "explore market resources" and reduce operating costs, said Chen Tian, a political adviser.
Chen's suggestion comes as Shenzhen Concert Hall and Shenzhen Grand Theater are under fire for making losses and a low rate of use at both venues despite sizeable government funding between 2007 and 2009.
Chen said unified management could reduce promotion costs and make for better use of performance resources at each performanc venue.
Citizens generally noticed no difference between performances staged at Shenzhen Concert Hall, Shenzhen Grand Theater and Shenzhen Poly Theater, the Southern Metropolis Daily report yesterday.
Chen suggested the establishment of a company to manage the city's performance venues, which could also reduce the number of technical and management staff to reduce operating costs.
Chen also said there was a lack of third-party supervision which could ensure the "proper use" of government funding.
An unidentified source with the city's State-owned assets management bureau said that government funding should be used for nonprofit performances and that venues should reduce their dependence on the government and improve their marketing strategies.
Shenzhen Grand Theater staged no performances for two-thirds of the days between 2007 and 2009, and Shenzhen Concert Hall had been empty 180 days a year since it opened in October 2007, according a report submitted to lawmakers.
The city spent 23.58 million yuan (US$3.58 million) funding the theater and 40.4 million yuan funding the concert hall over the three years. Yet the two cultural venues had seen economic losses totaling 42.22 million yuan, not including the depreciation of facilities, the report said.
In response to the criticism, Wang Lei, manager of the concert hall's management company, said earlier this week that the concert hall was a nonprofit organization which required government support.
"Among the concert halls in the world, only Broadway [in New York] can make money," Wang said.
(Martin Li)
