We Need to Save the Arts So They Can Save Us
We recently learned that San Francisco Mayor London Breed is piloting a program that will provide a guaranteed income of $1,000, for six months, to 100 local artists whose work represents diverse lived experiences. Partnering with the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, this remarkable initiative is accepting applications and soon will be a reality. Mayor Breed is to be commended for this bold vision and keen understanding of the tremendous power of the arts to lift lives and to make a city vibrant. As we say at LSPFF, when the arts fully reflect the creativity and diversity of our lived experiences, they can help us unleash the full potential of our society.
The leaders of arts institutions and artists themselves have been indefatigable this year. On a dime, they adapted to a new reality in which income from classes, ticket sales, visits and events nearly disappeared. Fortunately, artists are inherently creative and expansive in their thinking about how and where to reach audiences and now find us in our living rooms, on Zoom. In equal measure, artists are perceptive about changing public discourse and offer a canvas for exploring social issues. Informed by the important and growing reckoning on race, arts organizations are seeking out works that reflect our diverse lives. For example, The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art recently installed a beautiful mural by Liz Hernández. “Conjuro para la Sanacion de Nuestro Futuro,” (“A Spell for the Healing of our Future”), is an homage to the her grandmother’s teachings and a prayer for community health. It is a profound gift from Hernandez at this moment. Organizations are rethinking the question of “who is an artist or a musician,” challenging themselves to build new relationships in the community, and using their stages to raise the profile of artists of color. The San Francisco Symphony introduced its audiences to Hip Hop for Change, a Black led, Oakland-based organization that employs hip hop to educate people about socio-economic injustices, and advocates for solutions that will enrich historically oppressed communities. And the arts are continuing to respond to this global moment through creative expression. This year, audiences saw evocative and breath-taking performances about the pandemic, such as Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet’s stirring video series, “There is No Standing Still.”
The pandemic and shift to virtual experiences allowed many to seek solace through new artistic pursuits: instrument and dance classes, painting instruction and art education – all delivered online. Virtual concerts and performances lifted spirits as people traveled virtually to museums, symphonies, and music venues across the globe. Homes have been filled with elevating music and inspiring, original presentations. Just when it was most needed, one could be immersed in the brilliance and beauty of the arts from the comfort of one’s home.
Arts organizations are a lifeline to audiences, and they are also a lifeline to the very artists who gift their creations. Federal loan programs have helped buoy these institutions, but artists’ livelihoods continue to hang in the balance. Mayor Breed’s ground-breaking guaranteed basic income pilot for artists whose work represents marginalized communities will infuse the arts with greater equity and, as a result, all of society will prosper.