Getting Out the Umbrella During the Perfect Storm
Recently, I sat in on an interview of Executive Director Bob Booker by valley theatre critic and New Times writer, Robrt Pela. Pela was interested in learning more about the hardships Arizona theatre organizations – especially small and mid-size – continue to face.
What the Arizona arts industry knows for sure is that dealing with the ripple effects of the downturn hasn’t been easy; organizations continue to work through and respond to unpredictable ticket and admission sales, dramatically decreased availability of both public and private funds, and sluggish participation overall. It is no secret the ever-evolving economic landscape changed the ways Arizona arts organizations do business and approach their work.
While the statewide arts industry continues to tackle obstacles, it was encouraging to hear Bob’s perspective: “We are part of an industry that is inherently creative; overcoming hardships is the norm, we are accustomed to navigating financial challenges, and we thrive on opportunities to refocus and reinvent.”
The interview, which is part of a larger piece for NPR’s KJZZ, also includes commentary from Theater Works Artistic Director, Robyn Allen, and Director of Alliance for Audience and Showup.com, Matt Lehrman. Use the audio player below to here the piece in its entirety, or click here.
