We continue our exploration of the creativity and ingenuity being used to support our “art world” during this crazy time of a pandemic.  

We have lost so much over the past months – our children may not be in school, many people have lost their jobs or had to quickly pivot to working from home, technology has overtaken our world, AND we nearly lost our “world of art”!  

However, the art community is strong and resilient! 

During the spring we began to hear music – playing from someone’s porch, or via Zoom, drive-in concerts, and musicians writing and producing new songs from their home.  TV show reunions were created, often supporting the art world’s nonprofit organizations. Movies were released on alternative platforms. And plays began "Zooming" right into our living rooms.  

Today we are continuing our exploration of how creative artisans have excelled with wonderful new ways to enjoy and experience the wonders of art!

Our guests for this episode include Martha Cotton, Granville, OH. Martha has been a member and active volunteer of Licking County Art Association for many years.

LCA celebrates over 50 years as a non-profit, all volunteer arts organization. Her involvement has included serving as president of the board as well as exhibiting her own artwork. Martha retired from a professional career in Human Resources but continues to offer consulting services.  

We also welcome Regina Belt-Daniels. She lives in Crystal Lake, IL. Gina is a retired teacher, with 28 years of serving children in special education with communications disorders and 5 years in Reading Recovery. 

Gina is active in various theatre organizations, including the Rau Center for the Arts as well as the Woodstock Opera House, The Independent RCLPC Theater and is currently working on “I Hate Hamlet” for the Cosman Theatre (April 2021). 

She has been active in acting, directing, producing, managing, ticket sales and marketing. She has also written reviews on various productions in her region, including online productions during the pandemic.

We have had to deal with incredible transformations over the past months. We likely did not even realize how much we were losing in every sector of our world. What has been the most dramatic adjustment you or your organization has made to keep the public engaged and interested in the arts? 

We are finding that some modifications we have made, due to the pandemic, are actually giving us positive change. Have you seen positive change in your work and your arts organizations, that you believe was needed, even before the pandemic? 

What are some of the innovative ways you have discovered that other artists created or adopted, when they could not have live, in-person events?

Some artists and arts organizations have taken this opportunity to better utilize various social media outlets and technology to deliver art opportunities to students and the general public. How effective have audiences been in adapting to the technology? What are you hearing from those audiences – are they ready to adapt to the technology- or are they pleading for live performances and in-person exhibits?

What other short-term and long-term changes might we expect in how we enjoy art performance, exhibits, and art education? How well do you believe the public will adapt to these changes?

Technology has made a difference in our new normal. However, in your use of technology, do you see the need for additional tech tools, programs, software or hardware in order to increase the opportunities to provide and enjoy the arts? If you could change Zoom or the other programs you use, what changes would you need or wish for? 

Can you suggest any lists of resources for locating (local, national, international) art experiences that can be enjoyed in a safe environment? Also, can you provide our listening audience with information on your world of art and events/ programs they should discover?

Here is a link to the resources sheet mentioned in the podcast.

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Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.