{"id":6291,"date":"2021-02-03T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/engage\/?p=6291"},"modified":"2021-01-29T10:52:39","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T15:52:39","slug":"build-back-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/engage\/2021\/02\/build-back-better\/","title":{"rendered":"Build Back Better"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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One day \u2013whether it’s six months, a year, or two years from now\u2013 arts organizations will have emerged from their bunkers to once again make in-person arts experiences indoors. The trauma that we as individuals and as an industry have experienced between last March and then will be the backdrop for whatever that reality looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many are making big picture suggestions: a 21st-Century WPA program, a cabinet-level department devoted to culture, or a cultural affairs office in the White House. Those are all intriguing ideas; I just don’t believe there is the level of public support for our work that would be required to make any of it a political reality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, beyond advocating for them, there’s nothing that arts organizations can do about making them happen. They’re not under our control. I’m most concerned about the things that arts organizations can do\u2013on their own\u2013to make a more secure future for themselves. Building back better implies (as it should) that we do things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point I would implore arts organizations not to return to pre-pandemic practices with nothing more than modest tweaks. This is a time for serious reconfiguring.<\/strong> So let me suggest three categories for new or significantly expanded approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n