Gaining Insights From The EU On Rebuilding The US Cultural Sector

Back in the saddle and one of the first things I wanted to jump into is a report by EY Consulting about the cultural and creative economy in the European Union (EU) before and after COVID-19 (h/t Rainer Glaap). This is one of the first reports I’ve seen that focuses on concrete before/after impact on the broader cultural sector. Here’s how the authors describe the report: What was their economic situation …

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Starting 2021 With An Empathetic Perspective

While vaccine rollouts are helping performing arts organizations take a serious look at season planning schedules, furloughed artists and arts admins have yet to see the rays from the light at the end of that tunnel. In order to gather a better understanding of just how deep those economic cracks run, I want to point out two articles of note that came out while I was on holiday break. The 12/26/2020 …

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Adapting Stage Acoustics in Response to COVID

Last fall I delivered a lecture in Amsterdam about stage acoustics for orchestras, thinking it was a great opportunity to share what I’d learned over the years and looking forward to further study.  A year later, I have no idea when I’ll be allowed to travel to hear the Concertgebouw again and the picture of an orchestra on a stage – any orchestra on any stage! – looks wildly different than …

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Nothing Says Safe Like Floor Stickers (Seriously)

The ever thoughtful Joe Patti published one of those right topics and the right time posts at ArtsHacker that examines the value of thinking about updating your venue images now that we have some vaccinated light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. Even pre-Covid the general guidance for promotional images and text was to focus on the audience experience. Regardless of whether the venue you perform/show your work at is …

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Orchestra Admin Employment Status Update Survey Results

First and foremost, I want to extend a big thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a response for the employment status update survey. It’s not easy to talk about the pressures of looking for work, which makes this terrific response that much more meaningful. Just over 100 responses arrived and according to that information, finding work after being laid off, furloughed, or seeing your position eliminated during …

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