Festivals Without Borders

WITH ROBERT BAIRD

A NEW WORLD RISING

The novelist Thomas Wolfe contributed a popular expression to the English language in 1940 with the publication of “You Can’t Go Home Again.” It meant that you can’t return to the past because it will never be as you remember it – time has marched on and circumstances have changed. And the pandemic has made this a reality for us in all aspects of the performing arts: festivals will never be the same, venues will never be the same, performances will never be the same, and artists will never be the same.

And, as with all things, change is a two-edged sword, offering both good and bad. It is sad that we cannot go back to where we were before the pandemic, but it is a positive change that there will be improvements to what we knew as the status quo back then. We have lost much: family and friends have succumbed to the pandemic; colleagues have retired or changed career paths; we have all had to adapt to new protocols in order to avoid serious consequences in our social lives. But we have also gained a new awareness of the inequities in our society, along with an appreciation of the contributions that we must now allow to be made by persons and groups who were previously and thoughtlessly excluded from full participation in our endeavors.

It is a brave new world rising and we all have the opportunity to get on board. So, how can we do this and be a part of the future and not cling to a past that we are unable to resurrect? First of all, we need to ensure that our practices conform to heightened expectations created in recent times, not only our internal policies but our external policies. Does our organization recognize the necessity to have a workplace free of prejudice with a commitment to inclusion, equity and justice? If not, then we have to revise our practices to demonstrate this commitment. Do our external policies, including our hiring practices and our treatment of our customers reflect this commitment?

Secondly, we need to be open to a greater diversity in our choices and more accommodations in our practices. Do we include all segments of our demographics? Does our organization reflect these demographics? Do we include women and people of color in our administration, on our staff and in our volunteers? Do we accommodate disabilities of all kinds? Are we sensitive to the needs of the very young or the elderly?

Thirdly, we need to connect with our community more than we ever have before so that we can listen to different viewpoints and tailor what we do to a wider audience. We need to foster ties with the LBTGQ+ population and with various cultural groups in the community. Each group will have different expectations and we will have to understand these expectations and create a welcoming milieu where they will feel comfortable.

For some of us, it would feel most comfortable going back to the way things were and ignoring the many and serious ramifications of the pandemic. But, “you can’t go home again” and isn’t it better to acknowledge our changed world, face our discomfort head-on, and embrace this brave new world rising? Let’s all work together to make it a reality.

Robert Baird is President of BAM! Baird Artists Management Consulting in Toronto, Canada and an acknowledged expert in international touring including visas, withholding and taxation. He offers free advice to artists, agents, managers and venues and has an international clientele. He served for many years on the Executive Board of Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) and is a former Vice-President of that organization. He can be reached at: P: 1-800-867-3281 E: robert@bairdartists.com or for more information go to: www.bairdartists.com

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