Boulder County arts and culture groups meet COVID-19 head on

Boulder County artists, musicians, and cultural institutions are finding innovative ways to continue to bring a range of virtual creative experiences to local audiences as we shelter in place…from performance events to classes, workshops, and more.

According to your Community Foundation’s most recent TRENDS Report, the arts and culture in the greater Denver Metro area contribute an estimated economic impact of more than $500M annually, with the number of contract artists growing by nearly 50% in the last couple years.

But that was before COVID-19 hit, postponing everything from the Colorado Shakespeare Festival until summer 2021 to CU Boulder’s performing arts canceling all other performances until the end of the summer. All told, arts and culture organizations across the country are estimated to have lost a combined $4.5B because of the current public health crisis so far, according to a survey conducted by the Americans for the Arts; and among the more than 11K organizations surveyed for the study, the average loss was $38K in just over three weeks. More than two-thirds estimate that the crisis will have a “severe” or “extremely severe” impact on their business.

In part, that’s because 94% of respondents have canceled events. Roughly half say that expenses have gone up, or are expected to. And 23% have already reduced staff, while another 43% say they’ll have to do so eventually. For example, facing a $10M shortfall, the Guggenheim Museum has furloughed nearly 100 staffers and cut salaries for others (artnet News).

Closer to home, the Dairy Arts Center – and other arts and culture grantees of your Community Foundation – are finding innovative ways to continue to bring a range of virtual creative experiences to local audiences as we shelter in place, from events to classes, workshops, and more. Check out Free Range Dairy, including a plethora of virtual theater offerings; Parlando School of Musical Arts and Harmony Music House are offering virtual lessons; Lafayette’s Center for Musical Arts has organized a rich roster of free and pay-what-you-can programs – from talks about jazz to live music and lullabies for kids; and the Colorado Music Festival has launched weekly #NameThatTune videos featuring its talented musicians.

Says the Dairy’s Executive Director, Melissa Fathman: “Like other disruptors in history, I know there’s a second part, a beautiful and eye-opening part, where we all discover things about ourselves.

“For some, it’s a sense of bravery we never knew we had, or the thrill of being generous for the first time. In our case at the Dairy, it’s these bursts of creativity we didn’t know we had.”

Agrees Katie Lehman, Executive Director, Boulder Philharmonic – also a foundation grantee: “Music is absolutely essential to a society. The arts hold us together. When we have faced the deepest crises in human history, there has always been music to get us through. Musicians have always been the voices of the underserved in our society.”

Among the many, many more ways that our individual artists and local cultural institutions are coming together – see the Boulder Weekly’s extensive list of ways to connect with community creatively – the Museum of Boulder, another grantee of your Community Foundation, is working to chronicle a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic as it happens through stories, photos, and community artifacts; Home Wanted is collecting submissions in English and Spanish to be published as a digital community storybook, documenting our shared experience of being Home Together during this uncertain time; and Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet is offering live ballet and contemporary classes, daily.

Down the road in Denver – even while the Denver Center for the Performing Arts cuts staff and cancels shows amidst the COVID-19 shutdown – the WeAreDenver Network is streaming a new content segment every week for 90 days, brought to you by partnering businesses in support of local creatives. Plus, the Colorado Photographic Arts Center has put its entire 180-artist collection online – from works by Andy Warhol to Ansel Adams.

Says Matt Chasansky – Manager, Office of Arts and Culture, City of Boulder Library and Arts – on the role of artists during the crisis: “This is their moment, helping us stay connected through the stay-at-home restrictions, helping us process the challenges we’re all facing, and adjusting to new circumstances.”

Indeed, according to Matt, artists play a crucial role in our community’s resilience during these unprecedented times. And just recently, Boulder was named the #3 most creative small city in America.

He continues, “Professional artists are experiencing the same vulnerabilities as many of us, and some have been hit doubly hard. As gig economy workers, they’ve had contracts cancelled and events closed that are hitting their incomes pretty hard – and many of them also have second jobs in informal education or the service industry. So, they’re getting hit twice by layoffs and lost work.”

Adds Matt, referencing a recent survey conducted by the Boulder Chamber to assess the business impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, including questions about critical needs pertinent to supporting nonprofits and artists, as well: “There are a lot of furloughs and layoffs in our nonprofit workforce. And it’s important for people to know that the support that is being assembled at state and federal levels is not complete.

“The NEA is getting $75M from the CARES Act. Most of that is going to be delivered directly to the organizations that are already receiving NEA grants. The remainder, if divided up, would be only about $1,800 per arts nonprofit across the country. Very little of that is going to trickle down to Boulder County organizations.

“And, although unemployment has been extended to self-employed and gig workers, the system is bogged down right now. But there are ways we can be helpful to our arts industry, like foregoing your ticket refund, donating or upping your membership, and supporting Colorado artists.”

Additionally, Create Boulder and the city’s Office of Arts and Culture have launched a project to support Boulder artists financially impacted by COVID-19. According to the Daily Camera, “‘The Creative Neighborhoods: COVID-19 Work Projects’ provides 66 funding opportunities of $599, each.

“Professional artists who live in Boulder and are experiencing negative financial effects as a result of COVID-19 are eligible to apply. Projects will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Artists awarded projects will create an experience in their neighborhoods with the goal of connecting community members during social distancing, or helping them reconnect and readjust after distancing restrictions are lifted. The project aims to provide fast funding for local artists who have lost jobs, gigs, or events because of COVID-19.”

Applications will be accepted through April 23. Click here for more information, or to submit an application.

Concludes Matt, “We believe the arts and culture are the way we adjust to changes in how we exist, in how we live – whether it’s getting through a pandemic, or the increasing threats of extreme weather events due to climate change. The arts and culture document and point the way toward the evolution of our social infrastructure.”