Any Landing You Can Walk Away From…

Resilience.  In the arts & cultural sector, there is no more valuable quality. 

As today marks the end of the fiscal year for many organizations, let’s observe that there are measures of success even MORE important than a financial statement’s bottom line.  Any landing you can walk away from IS a good landing.  So today, let’s take a moment to celebrate that we have endured!  

These are surely some of the toughest times we have faced:  in our families; our careers; our organizations and companies; our sector; our communities; our State; and our Nation.

Yet every day, those of us who work in the arts and cultural sector rise with strength, tenacity and incredible passion to advance the missions of our organizations and to provide valuable services to our communities.  

Even in the best of times, we understand that success isn’t linear.  ”Three steps forward; two steps back” is an expectation we have all known for a long time.  Yet, in recent years we’ve learned to persevere – even when progress is measured as “Two steps forward; three steps back.”

Many years ago, (in a time before computers, when I received a daily paper ”target report” that showed the day’s & season’s ticket sales) at the end of a particularly frustrating and disappointing year, we held an outdoor ceremony and BURNED the final target report of the year.  It was, truly, a liberating experience - to let go of the old season.  To unburden before taking on new challenges. 

However your fiscal year is ending, let me invite you to raise a toast – or just take a breath. 

To my colleagues among all Alliance for Audience member organizations:  I applaud you.  Hug you.  Respect you.  Admire you.  Love you.   The very last line of Sunday in the Park with George returns the audience to the artist’s perpetual renewal:  “Blank, a white page or canvas.  His favorite.  So many possibilities.”

Tomorrow, we have the great privilege to start again.