It's been a very busy year for the Cache Valley Center for the Arts and, in spite of the current economic crisis, this year's ticket sales are ahead of budget.

Executive Director Wally Bloss told the Cache County Council Tuesday that 105,773 people attended at least one event at the Center with the Ellen Eccles Theatre drawing more than 79,000 people.

Bloss says that included 21,000 for Utah Festival Opera, down about 10 percent, CVCA season touring artists, 24,000, up 20 percent and other area arts presentations totaled 34,000, up 30 percent.

Bloss says nationally dozens of arts organizations have closed their doors

Bloss says there have been numerous sellout crowds but what has changed is some of the local arts oganizations have downscaled or dropped their rentals of the theatre.