Having read about the strike actions with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Shreveport Symphony, right and wrong is not the issue that concerns me right now, apathy and irrelevance might be the battle both organizations face in a time when momentous events are taking place….hey what’s the chance someone will bring up the Arts in a debate? I would say zero, and that neither surprises me or even bothers me….what to do in this case?…..
TIME OUT, TRUCE! That’s what I would try to do and strongly suggest. Simply put, the weight of everything that is happening in the economy and the presidential race is huge. In the presidential debates it is not only bereft of any discussion about the Arts. Think about what else is not being talked about or has barely been mentioned, such as stem cell research, crime, domestic violence, drugs, immigration, farm subsidies, minimum wage, gun control and the list goes on. Massive issues barely touched, the dual focus for everyone is the election and the economy. Worse than a strike and/or lockout (and I am not affixing blame) is what if NO ONE WILL NOTICE OR EVEN CARE. However it goes deeper than that, and here’s my plea:
This is a time when what we do is possibly needed the most. There is such a bombardment from the media and from the campaigns that for many it will be a welcome relief to be able to go to a concert, a play, an art museum or any other arts related event to give people a sense of normalcy, beauty, escapism, entertainment, fulfillment and so on. This is the time we may actually be able to cut through the noise by being at our best and most accessible, showing a community that we are there for them in the bad times also. Enough people are being foreclosed upon so why now risk foreclosing on yourselves! When we all do our all important galas, fundraisers and benefits we can easily forget that a regular concert, especially in a time like this is also a benefit, but for the people. So there will be a time to disagree and even take action, but please don’t do it now when your communities need you the most. This is a time in which we can become relevant.
As I have said many times, Arts groups put in a lot of effort to try and convince their communities that they need their support. I believe always but especially at this time, that it is the community that needs our efforts to support and be there for them.