Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Donnelley Foundation survey shows arts organizations still hesitant to open in-person for fall season
Chicago Tribune: Since Illinois has reopened from the pandemic lockdown in 2020, normalcy is one thing that remains elusive. Case in point: a new survey by the Chicago-based Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation that shows that despite overall theater industry comeback, smaller organizations are still struggling to reopen.
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Can you blame them? Despite the fact that things have returned to what we’re calling a “new normal,” the COVID-19 virus is definitely still a thing. And yes, vaccines have, for the most part, made it across the United States of America. And yes, masks have started to become an “optional” element in most states. However, new strands of COVID-19 continue to develop and those refusing to wear masks and/or (at the very least) get vaccinated are not aiding in solving the crisis. Likewise, I assume rules and regulations stipulating audiences not to exceed 50-80% occupancy (depending on the venue) have inflicted on this dilemma. I mean, production companies must now calculate appropriate margins to, at the very least, break-even– not lose money. Otherwise, reopening a theatrical production is simply not worth it. This same principle applies to other forms of cultural forms of entertainment (ie. museums, galleries, screenings, etc).
I completely understand and resonate with the sentiment and apprehension in regards to opening an in-person season. The people you employ can be held more accountable when it comes to maintaining COVID safety, including weekly COVID testing and wearing masks while working, but it is impossible to ensure that level of safety when factoring audiences into that equation. The future of theatre is very uncertain, but going forward with virtual, outdoors, and hybrid programming seems like the most viable path forwards. The main issue with pursuing and creating new forms of theatre is the fact that people are very quick to dismiss anything that is not traditional, sit-down theatre. Virtual programming, outdoors events, and a mix-and-match format of engaging the community--none of these are invalid or less valid forms of entertainment. However, in order to financially profit off of these more non-traditional theatre formats, people have to be willing to financially support them. The fact is, even with the more socially accepted format of theatre that is sit-down, live theatre, small companies are still hesitant due to the lack of financial support and resources. This is a difficult situation to navigate and it will look different for each company, but I am hoping that beyond the search for ‘a return to normalcy’, theatre artists are able to survive and continue to create work.
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