5 minute read
The Shawshank Redemption
TPAC is BACK
BY AMANDA NICHOLS
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Have you longed for that feeling? That feeling you get when the musicians are finishing up their warmups, the lights begin to dim, everyone settles in and all of the anticipation builds until the moment the show begins. Then — all at once — that very first line or note breaks, and everyone in the theatre is sent on a journey together. Did you miss it? We did.
My colleagues and I at the TPAC are lucky people. We get to devote our time and energy to ensuring that feeling persists in Tulsa. And we take that duty very seriously. We are a passionate group of people who believe deeply in the power of art. It’s why we do what we do. It’s why our mission statement is “To be the catalyst for performing arts experiences by facilitating and delivering excellent local, national and international programming for diverse audiences.”
For 15 months, we struggled to fulfill that duty in a world where in-person performances were suddenly dangerous. Determined as ever, we created a new type of event: Arts in the Air, a free, outdoor series of performances, and we finally managed to get a bit of that inperson feeling — that bond between performer and audience — back.
Now, as the world settles into a new normal, we can get back to what we do best: providing incredible experiences to our community, experiences that bring us all together after a year of being pulled apart. And as we work toward building our momentum back, the true impact of the performing arts on everything from our collective spirit to our economy is clearer than ever before.
According to studies done by Americans for the Arts, 69% of the American population believe the arts “lift [them] up beyond everyday experiences” and 81% say the arts provide a “positive experience in a troubled world.” Those studies also show Americans recognize that the arts unify communities. In fact, 72% of our country agree that “the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race and ethnicity.” And 73% agree that the arts “help [them] understand other cultures better” — a perspective observed across all demographic and economic categories.
Many studies have also shown that the arts improve academic performance. Students who take part in some form of art have higher GPAs, standardized testing scores and college attendance rates. Students involved in art show more motivation and engagement overall.
Additionally, the arts have an incredible impact on the economy. Nationally, arts and cultural goods added $764 billion — including a $21 billion surplus trade — to the economy in 2015 alone. That’s more than transportation, tourism and agriculture brought in. That same year, the industry supplied 4.6 million jobs and generated $27.5 billion in government revenue.
Local businesses also feel that glow. Attendees at performing arts events generally spend $31.47 per person, per event. That total doesn’t include the price of the show; it is spent on items like meals, parking and childcare. Those who travel to Tulsa for shows often stay in town longer than the show itself, seeking out local experiences and restaurants. They become tourists to our city, spending an average of $47.57 in event-related spending every time they come to see a show.
Culturally, academically and economically, the arts are a vital part of our community. A part of the community we’ve been starved of for over a year. And now that we’re back? We don’t intend to take our part in the resurgence of the performing arts lightly. Not that we ever did, but after a year desperate to put on a show, believe us when we say: We’re ready to take Tulsa by storm.
We’ve used our downtime to reimagine everything from our tagline to our logo. We hope you like the new look. We wanted something that felt less boxed in, more open and flowing, more focused on where we intend to go — up. Arts. Elevated. is exactly what we aim to spend every moment in this building doing. The goal is to take the performing arts to a whole new level in Tulsa.
We’ve also done the groundwork to start a patron program and put other funding initiatives in place to ensure our building gets the renovations it needs to best serve our community. As the community around art grows in Tulsa, we must grow too. And we intend to.
Most importantly, we’ve continued to dream up ways to ensure every single person in our community has access to both taking part in and viewing the performing arts. This year, our program the Orbit Initiative will pick up where it left off. New locations, educators and programs are being finalized to restart the free arts classes offered throughout the community. And next summer, the program’s second production will take the stage. In its first year, the initiative brought over 100 performers together to perform Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” a show that was presented to the public for free.
Another of our favorite programs, Any Given Child will also resume. In partnership with the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa, the Mayor’s office and 11 partner organizations, this program ensures that local Tulsa students have at least nine live arts experiences before reaching high school. Our Imagination Series is also geared toward helping Tulsaarea children learn through the arts. Using a mix of theatrical storytelling and STEM-related events, the shows teach and entertain simultaneously.
Our Brown Bag It series starts back up in October. The free noontime concert series features local artists in an intimate setting. Artists use their time to both entertain and inform while audiences enjoy their lunches. Our newest program, which debuted during the summer to provide safe entertainment in the middle of the pandemic, Arts in the Air will return this month. This time, it will take place as a three-day festival, featuring the very best in local talent.
Our awards programs will also pick back up. The Tate Awards, celebrating the best in local theatre will begin its new season this month, with awards to take place next year. And the Discovery Awards, part of our partnership with Celebrity Attractions, will once again give local high school talent the opportunity to travel to New York City and work with top industry professionals.
The last year has been hard on the performing arts — hard on the communities missing that feeling of togetherness that only happens during live, in-person performances. We’ve missed it too. But we have used our time off to make sure art returns to Tulsa stronger than ever before. The Tulsa Performing Arts Center is, in its simplest form, just walls and stages. But the people in it, my coworkers, our partners and our community, make it the most magical place in existence. And we can’t wait to see what we do together next.
