Best Pandemic Pivot for Performing Arts: Arts Go Digital
Performing arts organizations that are based on the traditions of their art form forged over centuries don’t bend easily. They often find it difficult to adjust to changes in the world, from the interests of new generations to societal norms. They try to infuse their art with some of the world’s eccentricities, but few things could have prepared them for a pandemic that literally left them without audiences. Not only are spectators the lifeblood of performing arts financially and emotionally, but answering the question of what do you do when they are gone was brutal for arts organizations everywhere.
Fortunately, Houston’s fine arts community managed to not only adapt on the fly but open itself to new audiences in the process. By taking performances digital, it created a whole new way for people to enjoy and participate in both watching and interacting with performers via Zoom. It also provided a new avenue for distribution to a much wider and more diverse audience, no doubt a breath of fresh air for artists who just want their work to be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2022.
