End Note: Carry On

When people ask me what to do about the increasing number of assaults on the arts, it is my nature to try and help by offering some practical suggestions. But today I find myself at a loss. Like many of us, I am experiencing feelings that run the gamut from anger and full-blown outrage to feeling overwhelmed and just plain numb.

My serious concerns are not confined to the arts but also extend to attacks on fundamental values of American democracy, including individual freedoms, unencumbered inquiry in science and public health and at universities, open access to libraries, humane approaches to immigration, and protection of communities that are experiencing a troubling increase in discrimination and marginalization. As if things aren’t complicated enough, changes are happening so dynamically that what seems clear today could be far less important, or even irrelevant, tomorrow.

The situation that our community of artists and administrators now faces is not entirely new. The arts have been perennially undercapitalized; they have often been seen as unnecessary frills, and have been undercut by people with a mindset that considers whatever goes to the arts as taken away from their personal priorities. Yet the current attack on the arts feels especially dangerous.

Still, there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful. Over the past several years, I’ve seen arts organizations make great strides. For example, in the music and opera fields that are near to my heart, I’ve seen more strategic cross-sector collaborations with community relationships and relevance at their core. Moreover, small ensembles, which are inherently light on their feet and nimble in terms of community organizing, are finding fresh ways to approach the current confounding challenges with remarkable creativity.

These and other successful efforts remind me that, even in a sea of unknowns, there is something about which I am certain: The arts will carry on.

No matter the political climate or any other conditions we face today, the art we make matters. Artists and those working behind the scenes, whose mission and values have helped create art and serve community needs, will keep creating and serving. And while I will always fight for government support of the arts, even if it is eliminated, we can be sure that the arts will continue to enrich lives with beauty that builds empathy, challenges beliefs, and fosters a sense of belonging.

As we raise our voices together and develop more strategies to ensure that the arts continue to thrive, we must remain hopeful, confident, and carry on.