Alberta-born Joni Mitchell sang it best: "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," and that could not ring more true for Calgary's arts community. Yet, despite unprecedented loss, many major Calgary fine arts organizations are facing an uncertain future with great optimism driven by their ingenuity and the innovative programming solutions they've developed in the past year.
In fact, a COVID impact survey conducted by Calgary Arts Development (CAD) in June found that 64 per cent of Calgary arts organizations are confident they'll be able to start producing new content by spring.
"We're moving full-speed ahead for this September," says Kyle Russell, interim executive director for Alberta Theatre Projects (ATP). He adds that if restrictions ease, they have small-scale productions planned for even earlier than that.
"The very best thing we can do is to have events again where, even in a limited form, we can start having a live audience," says Paul Dornian, president and CEO of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO).
As they plan for the eventuality of in-person events, many arts organizations recognize how invaluable online streaming has become, and most intend to keep that option going forward.
"Although so many of us are stuck at home living in a small geographic footprint these days, we still need respite, and we still need a break from the daily grind and stress," says Nicholas Bell, president and CEO of the Glenbow Museum.
Within the first few weeks of lockdown, the Glenbow began streaming a weekly video series which gave the public a glimpse into their exhibitions and collections, and offered resources for educators.
The CPO held nine virtual concerts in 2020, garnering nearly 20,000 household registrations for the free events, and approximately $100,000 in online donations.
Dornian says ticketing analytics showed that many of the online attendees were not regular CPO subscribers.
"I'm encouraged by that and hope that's a sign that when COVID is over, there's a significant part of the community that we'll be able to connect with that haven't previously been part of the CPO community."
Alex Sarian, president and CEO of Arts Commons, says Theatre Calgary's online production of A Christmas Carol drew over 20,000 viewers from around the world, while Arts Commons' National Geographic Live digital presentations already have 6,000 households registered for the free monthly events running from February until June.
Sarian, who joined Arts Commons in May of 2020 after seven years as a senior executive at the Lincoln Center in New York, says although he's yet to have had the opportunity to host a single event in any of the Arts Commons venues, he's used this time as an opportunity to "leverage every gift COVID has given us."
In this case, Arts Commons was given the gift of time - in which over $6 million worth of renovations have been undertaken during this extended blackout. This includes improvements in sound, lighting, and video systems, upgrades to accessibility infrastructure, and a new hospital-grade air filtration system.
"Our production team was actually incredibly giddy because it meant they could now do years' worth of upgrades that will elevate the cultural experience, but also elevate people's sense of safety and security," says Sarian.
Safety and security being the two words at the forefront of everyone's minds as they consider a return to arts and entertainment venues.
CAD conducted three more surveys over the course of 2020 to determine the future of Calgary's live experience economy. The most recent survey, released in November, found that 46 per cent of Calgarians surveyed need to be assured that an experience is safe to return to.
"We understand safety first. Not only because it's in the public health interest, but because that's what our audiences are telling us, says Patti Pon, president and CEO of CAD. "That's the one consistent thing we've seen in the three iterations of the survey we've done."
ATP also conducted its own stakeholder survey in June 2020, and while most patrons were comfortable with the level of health and safety measures put in place by the theatre, Russell says the survey found that it's their fellow patrons that present a bigger sense of discomfort for theatre-goers, as they might not be as safety conscious.
"It's supposed to be something that's relaxing; it's supposed to be something that's inspiring, so we don't ever want someone coming to an event and worrying about health and safety," says CPO's Dornian.
All of the arts organizations interviewed have tabled the idea of mandatory vaccinations for entry in future, but say that would depend entirely on the direction of the government and health authorities.
Many organizations are simply working with the information they have, and "paying attention to what the arts sector across Canada, North America, and Europe are doing," says Sarian.
According to him, Arts Commons is looking at more feasible entry options such as rapid testing.
No matter what the short and longterm future holds for Calgary's cultural organizations, what's clear is that that Calgarians see value - and hope - in the arts community.
"I think it's important that we all acknowledge that a healthy arts infrastructure is part of a healthy city," says Bell.
"We can't afford to lose these institutions." "We're doubling down on the future of Calgary. If we're going to attract jobs, if we're going to attract corporate headquarters, we need a strong and vibrant arts community," says Sarian.
"Every major city in the world has amazing museums, amazing performing arts centres, amazing zoos, amazing education and public transport, so Calgary needs to do that as well. We need to prove that the quality of life in Calgary is worth staying for."