Welcome Letter As you watch our Pops by the Sea At-Home Edition, remember that this is Cape Cod’s benefit concert for our local artists and our cultural nonprofits who are hurting. We recently conducted a survey in which cultural leaders told us they anticipated their organizations would lose as much as $3.7 million in revenue as a result of the pandemic, leading to furloughs, reduced salaries of staff, and use of financial reserves. Artists estimate they will lose nearly $1.1 million this year. These numbers paint a stark picture.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES.
But we remain hopeful. That’s because we have the arts. The arts are resilient, the arts are adaptable, and the arts endure. We’ve seen this locally with musicians safely playing outdoor shows in their yards and public spaces; with the return of the drive-in theater; and with photographers snapping pictures of families safely on their front doorsteps.
This August is a stark reminder of how much has changed. We’ll be celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Citizens Bank Pops by the Sea and Keith Lockhart’s 25th anniversary with the Boston Pops, at home, apart.
Still, uncertainty looms. To reduce that uncertainty, we play a pivotal role. For all the times that the arts have lifted us up, now it’s our turn. We must return the favor.
Last August, we were all together on a picture-perfect summer night, dancing and singing along to Keith Lockhart, guest conductor and performer Erich Bergen, and the Boston Pops. If you were to conjure up a quintessential image of summer on Cape Cod, this would be it.
We know you’ll enjoy it. But it won’t be the same. There is a communal energy you feel at a live show that gets lost in translation when you’re watching on your computer or television. Through the arts, we realize just how connected we all are. And through the arts, we find comfort at a time when we need it most. Among the first images we saw when the pandemic hit were opera stars in Italy standing out on their balconies, singing from the depths of their heart. At our lowest point as individuals, as a community, and as a society, it has been the arts that have lifted us up. When tragedy strikes, what is one of the first things that happens? A benefit concert is held to raise funds for those who are hurting.
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We think the arts are worth saving. And if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you do too. That’s why we hope you’ll seriously consider a donation to the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. Pops by the Sea is our largest fundraiser of the year, allowing us to make a tangible impact on our creative economy. In this booklet, there are several stories that show how your support is making a difference in the lives of individuals and our community. On behalf of those we serve, thank you for believing the arts are worth saving.
Julie Wake and Kathryn Kayajan P.S. Your generosity will ensure that this time next year, the Pops can make its triumphant return to the Hyannis Village Green. We’re already counting down the days!
Pops by the Sea 2020 • At-Home Edition
