www.timeout.com/newyork: As part of the much discussed New York Arts Revival project, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts just announced its plans to create a giant outdoor performing arts center that will include ten different performance and rehearsal spaces.
Dubbed Restart Stages, the effort was crafted with the help of medical and public health professionals, ensuring that all staff, future audiences and artists will be protected by COVID-19-related safety protocols.
5 comments:
I think the concept of having the performance center that is dedicated to the outdoor performances is very interesting. It would have way more regulations than the indoor performance center because they cannot conveniently use the systems that are supposed to be “under” the stage (like orchestra pit or lifts) or way above the stage (like fly rails). However, I think it would also have advantages, such as being able to formulate certain atmosphere or reproduce the certain scenes of historical periods by using the buildings around the center. Although I do not know how the construction will be conducted because it is not detailedly described in the article, but I think these days would be the best period to work on major construction projects since there are less people outside. This center would be even more beneficial because it would not only used for performances, but also for many other purposes like elections or food distributions, which would make the center into the actual public hub.
I believe this is an excellent concept to help ease back into regular performance venues. Although arts and entertainment venues are set to open back up to limited capacity in early April, just a month away, I am certain Covid will not yet be a thing of the past, so it is important that we be cautious in these reopening processes. I really think that the Lincoln Center has the right idea here. These outdoor performance and rehearsal spaces will be much, much safer than enclosed spaces for these early reopening phases. I do wonder, though, how long these spaces will remain open and functioning. I anticipate at least through the end of Covid, provided the spaces are successful, but my big question is if they will remain in Post-Covid times. Outdoor performance venues come with their own set of challenges, and are often temporary installations. However, since we are kind of forced into this modality for the time being, I wonder if the outdoor spaces will stick beyond Covid into a more permanent part of the Performing Arts companies around the United States.
I really enjoyed this solution in bringing the arts back however doing so safely. I think it's important that as we seem to approach the end of this pandemic (key word seem) we really hone in on social distancing and do whatever possible to create a definitive end. I really liked that this venue is outdoors and is doing anything possible to open yet still remain safe. The addition of health care professional opinions gives me big hopes for this type of venue succeeding and allowing arts to flourish through this tough time. I don't think covid will be leaving entirely in the next few months but with the weather warming up again I think it is a great time to introduce safe outdoor theatre and focus on that. I think if we focus on outdoor venues this summer we can slow down a spread and avoid having the arts responsible for super spreader events. I also think the idea of fully committing to outdoor venues is exactly what the arts needs right now as it can give a concrete answer on where your show will take place and ease the stress of a last minute change due to a covid case. This move seems to help all sides, something that opening indoor venues is not achieving right now.
I have said this time and time again, but I am such a stickler for COVID guidelines, so any gathering or potential gathering really sets me on edge and I will not be one for it, but for the sake of this article we will move past that a little. Like I've said before, I want the arts to reopen and go back to normal so badly! And being outdoors is definitely a better idea than being indoors. We have had at least one article this week talk about how New York plans to reopen indoor theatre and performance venues at limited capacity (As a somewhat overly cautious person, I definitely do not think this is a good idea). What is also very exciting is how this Roberts Stage will not just be for the arts, but will also engage the community with things like blood drives, food distribution, and be a designated polling place.
Just like everyone else, I have been dreaming for venues and live performances to come back. Although, I understand that in the current situation we have to be extremely safe and sometimes that means not doing something you love. I also understand that a lot of artists are out of work and they need a way to make a living because of shut downs and restrictions. This outdoor venue could be a good solution. Don’t get me wrong it still does make me nervous, but they have shown that they are putting a lot of thought into people’s safety and keeping COVID cases low. The one question I had while reading that was never truly answered was how long these spaces and stages will be up. I’d imagine it would still be up in summer because of the sunny weather but what happens after? What if COVID is still a big problem after that?
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