Performing Arts Groups Partner to Form New Initiative in Response to COVID-19.
In the wake of government recommended closures and the mandated cancellation of all public events due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, performing arts organizations in Spartanburg have been forced to cancel concerts and shows, effectively limiting the community’s access to quality, live arts. Seeing the need for continued inspiration in this difficult time, the Spartanburg Philharmonic, Ballet Spartanburg, and Spartanburg Little Theatre have banded together to form a new partnership – Together SpARTanburg.
Together SpARTanburg seeks to give the community access to the performing arts with regularly scheduled programs available online through social media, and the organizations’ websites. Beginning Wednesday, March 25 at 10:00am, the Together SpARTanburg partners will all post the first of many segments, designed to engage and entertain viewers of all ages in a fun and meaningful arts experience.
While the cancellations of each organization’s concerts and performances might have been necessary, the results of these decisions are also felt by the artists and larger Spartanburg community. “Across the world, we are seeing arts organizations and artists making impossible decisions about their concerts, work and livelihoods while prioritizing the health and wellness of our communities,” says Kathryn Boucher, Spartanburg Philharmonic Executive Director. “Together SpARTanburg aims to bring local performing artists into the homes of our community still providing them an opportunity to be creative and our patrons an opportunity to stay connected to the artists and arts organizations that they love.”
As a performing arts organization that offers regular instruction to students, Teresa Hough, Executive Director of Ballet Spartanburg is aware of the double impact the closures have had. “Bringing the performing arts to our community right now in these very uncertain times is critical to keep a routine for our students and to allow some sense of normalcy of viewing the arts for our adults. We are so happy to work together to try to uplift our community. Together SpARTanburg maybe an idea to let our patrons and those who love the arts to know we are still here and that we will all get through this Together!”
Jay Coffman, Executive Director of Spartanburg Little Theatre, also stresses the importance of continued access to the arts. “One of the many important functions of the performing arts is to provide a temporary escape from the rigors, stresses, and challenges of our daily lives. This is especially important to our talented and creative community of artists and the very generous and giving audiences who support them. In these unprecedented times, we hope that Together SpARTanburg will show that the arts can continue to inspire, educate, and connect us beyond our conventional theaters and concert halls, when we need it the most.
Weekly schedules for Together SpARTanburg programs will be posted each Sunday at 10:00am, with the first occurring on March 29th. The Spartanburg Philharmonic will lead the series with a segment by Kelly Vaneman, Associate Principal Oboist. Together SpARTanburg invites everyone to break up the monotony of social distancing and join them for this new series that takes performing arts off the stage and into the digital world.
For more information about Ballet Spartanburg, visit www.balletspartanburg.org and for Spartanburg Little Theatre visit www.spartanburglittletheatre.com