On Dualities

Good day,

We approach the holiday of Thanksgiving here in the U.S. with mixed emotions.

We’re thankful — and even somewhat optimistic — of the news that several vaccines that are being developed show promising results with their distribution expected to begin soon and widespread delivery in the new year. But we’re also anxious about the staggering spikes in positive cases and deaths from the covid virus through the country as well as in many parts of the globe.

We’re thankful that the U.S. election is over and a clear winner has emerged with a strategic and coordinated plan to deal with the pandemic and economy. But we’re anxious about the instability of the political landscape caused by the continuing challenges to the vote, to the electoral process and to a stable transition.

We’re thankful that we’ve survived nearly nine months of the pandemic, but anxious about how things will play out in 2021.

These conflicting emotions are likely to remain for some time but if there’s one thing the arts community has shown this year it is that it can deal with multiple and even sometimes conflicting dynamics.

Though we long for the return of live indoor encounters and pine for “the way it was,” arts groups are keeping audiences engaged with on-line connections and even creating new kinds of artistic content. Will these new offerings — now supported with audiences’ now-familiar digital habits — continue in a post-pandemic time? Do they suggest the possibility of a new revenue stream? Perhaps.

In the meantime, we’re just thankful for positive news wherever we can find it. Take the resolution — finally — of the bitter conflict between two major entertainment industry unions — the Actors’ Equity Association, which represents 51,000 stage actors and state managers, and SAG-AFTRA, which represents 160,000 people. Both unions reached an agreement regarding streaming live events, allowing a clearer path forward for arts groups who want to create and monetize their efforts on these platforms. (But looking at the details of the agreement might require a new navigation system. Still, at least we can move somewhat forward.)

What else? We’re thankful for organizations who are planning for the new year by re-envisioning their artistic homes in…

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