Fall outlook from Lowcountry arts groups: What’s next in the face of the Delta variant?

Longtime boosters of the arts in the Lowcountry and Chicago, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (GDDF) collaborated with Together SC and the SC Arts Commission to survey 3,782 arts, culture, and humanities nonprofits in the spring of 2021. They aimed to take a pulse on the financial health of the industry one year into the pandemic, and survey findings confirm what many had feared—COVID-19 continues to pose significant threats to SC’s arts community. 

Takeaways include:

• Statewide, the outlook was bleak, with 48% of creative and cultural (arts, culture, and humanities) survey respondents claiming they could operate for six months at most without additional revenue.
• Job losses at responding organizations reached 16% from March 2020 to March 2021.
• Though a slight (6%) rebound was expected by June 2021, the resulting 11% aggregate drop was expected to grow again upon the expiration of fiscal year funding (June 30). 

These findings were released nearly six months ago, meaning that critical window of hope noted by many survey respondents is closing. “Our grantees expected the fall arts season would offset some of 2020’s financial complications, but the Delta variant has the potential to create another year of lost revenue and in-person participation,” says Kerri Forrest, GDDF’s director of Lowcountry programs. “And for the arts industry, the answer isn’t as simple as going back online.” 

Though significant majorities of respondents reported integration of digital programming, the survey showed that it is difficult to monetize. Among South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) respondents, 75% reported at least some digital programming, while 90% of GDDF respondents reported it. However, three-quarters of both groups’ respondents said digital programming was only able to make up—at most—19% of their income. Cost was identified as the most significant barrier to digital programming.

Governmental support is on its way, thanks to the fulfillment of the SCAC’s request for $3.5M of COVID relief and general operating grants for FY22. But David Farren, GDDF executive director, believes that individual support en masse is what will help bolster our artists. “Federal and state money cannot alone cover a full year without income for these organizations. These organizations and their staff are a vital part of the quality of life and economy in our communities. We all need to step up to ensure they are able to return, when it is safe to do so, viable and ready to serve the community. We will know the non-profit sector has recovered when the arts and culture sector has recovered.”

How are the Donnelley Foundation’s grantees faring in the midst of this ongoing pandemic? 

• Sharon Graci, Co-founding Artistic Director, PURE Theater “More than ever we are learning to just be here now, because “here” changes with every iteration of “now.” Planning is difficult, as the landscape continues to shift and evolve and we’re rolling with it, and it is ok. The Delta variant not only challenges live assembly for our fall and winter programming, but we can’t help but also view it as a portent of what’s to come. The real urgency is not to return to what was, but to evolve gracefully to what can be. We must view these times as perfect challenges, and perhaps if we meet them with intention, and openness, and curiosity, the solutions may surprise and delight us.” 
• Scott Watson, Director of Cultural Affairs, City of Charleston “The shutdowns and reductions in capacity associated with COVID-19 starting in March 2020 greatly impacted the scope of our programming and operations. For calendar year 2020, our investment in presenting and producing public programs dropped by roughly $950,000 compared to previous years, with 2021 (at present) likely to still be down by $750,000 from past years. What is more troubling is our awareness that our local arts constituents remain in a moment of peril, without a clear path forward to move past the pandemic. The Delta variant and breakthrough cases of COVID-19 among vaccinated individuals has posed a major challenge to our ability to ramp up for the fall. We are starting to amend our plans as far as Spring 2022, recognizing that new, locally produced, in-person work may not be a realistic expectation in the near term, and that we will need to continue to work in blended modes for the foreseeable future.”
• Blake White, Founding Artistic & Executive Director, Lean Ensemble “In what ways haven’t we, or any other organization been impacted by the pandemic? Performance, fundraising, marketing, yes yes yes. The most difficult transition for me personally and professionally, was to the virtual world. We remained quite active virtually, but it’s not live theater. It’s just not. It was like asking a dentist to become a podiatrist. Sure it’s medical, but it’s a different field and different passion. Virtual is not where our passion, nor our audience’s passion, lies.”
• Victoria Moore, co-founder, TINYisPOWERFUL “TINYisPOWERFUL is a young arts organization working to establish infrastructures for a hybrid business model between artists and non-artists or not traditionally understood artists, We were just starting to form when COVID hit, so finding footing has been challenging. But the pandemic has pushed the arts and art forms to progress and become more accessible. As places are reopening and public performances are becoming possible again, I’d say to my community in support of the arts, do what you can to appreciate each other.” 
• Patricia Goodwin, Executive Director, Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum “With the vaccine availability in the spring and the boom in return tourism experience by Myrtle Beach in the summer of 2021, we enjoyed an increase in the number of visitors, almost matching the 2019 visitor numbers. However, with the Delta Variant and the recent increase in area Covid cases in late summer 2021, we had to make changes in programming planning looking ahead to the fall. We had hoped to host two September exhibition opening receptions with full capacity attendance. Instead, we will be limiting the number of attendees and also requiring face coverings for both openings. Any contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference and helps keep the arts – and the Art Museum – alive.” 
• Jana Riley, Executive Director, Public Works Art Center “We opened three weeks before the pandemic and didn’t even get a fair chance to get to the point of surviving and then thriving before everything went sideways. Our business model is sound, we’ve completed strategic planning with the help of the Donnelley Foundation, and we know we will be here for generations to come if we can ride out this storm. Especially because we offer so much to our community free-of-charge, including free admission and family-friendly event. Donating is the most powerful thing a person, company, or group can do to support the arts right now, however, for those who cannot financially donate, sharing our social media posts and emails and telling friends about the art center is so helpful. The more people that are connected with us, the more our mission can resonate, and the more support we can generate to achieve our goals.” 

About the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation

The nearly 70-year old Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation currently supports small arts nonprofits with an array of ongoing organizational development opportunities in addition to multi-year general operating grants (vs. program-specific). These gen op grants range from $2,500 to $13,500 annually for Chicago organizations with budgets under $1 million, and $5,000 to $25,000 annually for organizations in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation supports land conservation, artistic vitality, and regional collections for the people of the Chicago region and South Carolina’s Lowcountry. The Foundation serves these communities in the following ways:

Supplying multi-year general operating support for the majority of its grants. Anecdotally, multi-year general operating support is the “gold standard” most valued by grantees. It supports organizational stability, provides flexibility, and helps build further trust in relationships between funders and grantees

Providing value in addition to dollars. The Foundation’s strength is in the overall “value proposition” of its grants—the dollars, plus technical assistance support, sponsoring convenings, providing informal coaching, and paying for scholarships for conferences and other organizational development opportunities.

Establishing a number of touchpoints with grantees throughout the grant cycle. Every Foundation grantee, no matter the grant size, has contact with its program officer at least once a year, usually more often. Beyond the money, they sponsor and attend cohort meetings, learning sessions, and informal gatherings with various grantee clusters.

About the South Carolina Arts Commission

The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) is to promote equitable access to the arts and support the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina. The organization envisions a South Carolina where the arts are valued and all people benefit from a variety of creative experiences.

A state agency created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the SCAC works to increase public participation in the arts by providing grants, direct programs, staff assistance, and partnerships in three key areas: arts education, community arts development, and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the SCAC is fun­­­ded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts, and other sources. Visit SouthCarolinaArts.com or call 803.734.8696, and follow @scartscomm on social media. ####

FULL GRANTEE FEEDBACK

Victoria Moore, co-founder TINYisPOWERFUL 

• In what ways your organization was most impacted by the pandemic in 2020 and into early 2021?
  • The organization was just starting to form when COVID hit so finding footing has been challenging. We are a young arts organization working to establish infrastructures for a hybrid business model between artists and non-artists or not traditionally understood artists. 
• How is your organization faring as the fall ramps up? Any unexpected or recent impacts, adjustments, or changes over the course of the summer?

  • We just launched the second edition of a youth-led zine and there is a lot in development for spring! 
• How can folks in your community best support the arts? And how can they best support your organization, specifically? 
  • I’d say to my community in support of the arts, do what you can to appreciate each other. Places are reopening and public performances are becoming possible again. And the pandemic has pushed the arts and art forms to progress and become more accessible. And for the organization for now the best way to support is by visiting TINYisPOWERFUL.org or reaching out to me directly for more ways to be involved. There is an opportunity for a new person interested in the mission of the organization who is interested in applying multi-media and film-related skills that has not yet been publicly announced. 

Sharon Graci – Co-founding Artistic Director

• In what ways your organization was most impacted by the pandemic in 2020 and into early 2021?
  • The pandemic forced a radical shift in perspective that was not all bad. If we widen the lens beyond the ongoing tragedy of the pandemic, which is obvious and cannot be minimized, and reflect on the fundamental transformations that have occurred because of it, we see that there is much to be gained from what has happened. The erasure of normalcy within operations meant that we could examine our processes. Long-held ways of being are benefitting from belated examination and adjustment. The loss of earned revenue is frightening, but our work to maintain a connection to our audience has created new ways of being in community, that will be incorporated into our work going forward. 
• How is your organization faring as the fall ramps up? Any unexpected or recent impacts, adjustments, or changes over the course of the summer?
  • More than ever we are learning to just be here now, because “here” changes with every iteration of “now.” Planning is difficult, as the landscape continues to shift and evolve and we’re rolling with it, and it is ok. The Delta variant not only challenges live assembly for our fall and winter programming, but we can’t help but also view it as a portent of what’s to come. The real urgency is not to return to what was, but to evolve gracefully to what can be. We must view these times as perfect challenges, and perhaps if we meet them with intention, and openness, and curiosity, the solutions may surprise and delight us.
• How can folks in your community best support the arts? And how can they best support your organization, specifically? 
  • Participate. Participate. Participate. In whatever means that one can. Be it attending a live event, purchasing a ticket to a streamed or virtual event, making a contribution, sending a note of encouragement, participate. What’s most important for the arts, and other sectors of our society that are dependent upon live, in-person exchange, is to not let lack of attention be the death knell. For example, we carried out food from restaurants during the lockdown and early reopening as often as we could, because that was what they needed to survive. What the arts need most, is attention and participation at whatever level is available and by whatever means patrons are comfortable, or too many of us will not make it to the other side. How can someone support PURE? Get vaccinated, purchase a ticket, join us live, and if attending live is not possible, make a pay-what-you-will contribution and get a streaming link. Share our stories on social media, and participate in our giving campaigns. It truly does require more than just well-wishes, it requires action and intentional support. 

Blake White, Founding Artistic & Executive Director, Lean Ensemble

• In what ways your organization was most impacted by the pandemic in 2020 and into early 2021?
  • In what ways havent we, or any other organization been impacted. Performance, fundraising, marketing, yes yes yes. The most difficult transition for me/us personally and professionally, was to the virtual world. We managed to do a 10 episode arc of an online talk show, 2 audio plays and 2 zoom plays. We remained quite active virtually, but it’s not live theater. It’s just not. It was like asking a dentist to become a podiatrist. Sure it’s medical, but it’s a different field and different passion. Virtual is not where our passion, nor our audience’s passion, lies.
• How is your organization faring as the fall ramps up? Any unexpected or recent impacts, adjustments, or changes over the course of the summer?
  • Determined, realistic and optimistic. Obviously Delta cant be ignored and we arent where we hoped we would be when things started looking up back in May. But, we have every contingency we can think of so that all, no matter what (within reason) can still enjoy Lean Ensemble Theater in some capacity. We will record and release an edited version of (at minimum) our first 2 productions for those who cannot meet our safety requirements for whatever reason. This is different from the zoom radio play complaints I had in the previous question. This will be fully realized productions filmed on stage in front of an audience. So, if we have a mask requirement in October (which is incredibly likely) and you are hardcore anti mask for whatever reason, you can switch your ticket to the at home option. If you are in your 80’s, fully vaccinated but have mild asthma and wanted to give live theater a chance but are having second thoughts about sitting in a room full of strangers, you can switch your ticket to the at home. And if you are ready to jump back in to live performance feet first, we’ll be at the theater and ready for you.
• How can folks in your community best support the arts? And how can they best support your organization, specifically? 
  • As much as we all on planet Earth can complain about the last 18 months, I cannot complain about our faithful supporters. We still managed to finish FY 21 in the black (barely) and thats because we saw only a modest drop in individual contributions. We had to hustle a bit, but folks came through for us. That said, the best marketing in the arts is still word of mouth, and we are a small company. So, every performance should be “introduce a friend to Lean Ensemble Theater Day”.

Patricia Goodwin, Executive Director, Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum

•  In what ways your organization was most impacted by the pandemic in 2020 and into early 2021?
  • In March 2020, the Art Museum was forced by the pandemic to close its doors; only days later we also cancelled our major fundraiser of the year, followed by the cancellation of other events through the summer and fall. However, following careful research and planning, the Art Museum was able to open to the public just three months later on June 16, 2020.  We were, of course, happy to re-open and equally happy to be able to offer KidsArt summer programs and Pottery Studio classes – although with reduced class sizes. The financial challenges remained:  with the loss of class revenue, cancelled fundraising events, loss of cash donations from visitors and reduced sales in our Museum Shop. In addition, because of greatly reduced Myrtle Beach tourism due to the pandemic during most of 2020 and early 2021, we also experienced a loss in social media shares and responses – important outreach and exposure for the Art Museum.  There were a few bright spots.  The Museum’s 10th Annual Collectors’ Event (an annual fundraising event) was once again a sell-out and although a Zoom event in February 2021, it was extremely well received and the feedback was all positive.  In 2020, the Museum was also able to put our Museum Shop online and to add a Virtual Museum page to our website.
• How is your organization faring as the fall ramps up? Any unexpected or recent impacts, adjustments, or changes over the course of the summer?
  • With the vaccine availability in the spring and the boom in return tourism experience by Myrtle Beach in the summer of 2021,  the Art Museum enjoyed an increase in the number of visitors to the Museum, almost matching the 2019 visitor numbers.  However, with the Delta Variance and the recent increase in area Covid cases in late summer 2021, the Art Museum has had to make some changes in programming planning looking ahead to the fall.   We had hoped to host two September exhibition opening receptions with full capacity attendance.  Instead, we will be limiting the number of attendees and also requiring face coverings for both openings.  KidsArt class numbers will remain at reduced capacity.   As of this writing (August 30, 2021), the Art Museum will likely begin requiring face coverings for all visitors regardless of vaccine status.    
• How can folks in your community best support the arts? And how can they best support your organization, specifically? 
  • First, we continue to remind the public that we are physically open and that we have taken numerous precautions to provide a safe and healthy environment for visitors.  We communicate using social media, e-blasts, the Museum’s website, radio, print advertising and myriad, creative marketing resources.  We ask our members, donors and visitors to participate in the arts: go to museums, concerts and other performances. And spread the word, verbally or through social media, about how much they value the arts. Perhaps even more important is for everyone, regardless of their means, to help support the arts financially. The Art Museum relies greatly on private donations, memberships, grants from foundations, Museum Shop sales and fundraising events. Any contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference and helps keep the arts – and the Art Museum – alive. 

Jana Riley, Executive Director, Public Works Art Center 

• In what ways your organization was most impacted by the pandemic in 2020 and into early 2021?
  • We opened just weeks before the pandemic hit the Lowcountry after a year and a half of raising funding to “save the old town post office” and create a nonprofit community art center in the heart of Downtown Summerville. We worked from 2018-2020 to make it all happen, and had to close three weeks after opening our doors. It was a devastating blow to our plans for event rental space, birthday parties, summer camps, and classes, so our planned revenue for 2020 and 2021 was immediately and deeply affected. We forged ahead with exhibitions, and have held nearly 30 unique shows since opening our doors despite the difficulties.

• How is your organization faring as the fall ramps up? Any unexpected or recent impacts, adjustments, or changes over the course of the summer?
  • We were fortunate to be able to hold summer camps this year when things felt a little safer for a while, and we hope the revenue generated from those will help us stay afloat through this difficult time. We’re seeing significant and increased interest in our many free exhibitions (which we change every six weeks in our three galleries) and free events, something that I think really helps our community financially while connecting them with art and one another in an engaging way. We haven’t been able to rent out our space for event rentals this year, which has again impacted our budget, but we are hanging on. A number of grants we’ve wanted to apply for have paused funding during this crisis, leaving us in a difficult position.

• How can folks in your community best support the arts? And how can they best support your organization, specifically? 
  • I’lll be blunt. Donating is the most powerful thing a person, company, or group can do to support the arts right now. For our organization specifically, we opened three weeks before the pandemic and didn’t even get a fair chance to get to the point of surviving and then thriving before everything went sideways. Our business model is sound, we’ve completed strategic planning with the help of the Donnelley Foundation, and we know we will be here for generations to come if we can ride out this storm. Especially because we offer so much to our community free-of-charge, including free admission and family-friendly events, we hope those in our community who are able can help support us financially during this crucial time. However, for those who cannot financially donate, sharing our social media posts and emails and telling friends about the art center is so helpful. The more people that are connected with us, the more our mission can resonate, and the more support we can generate to achieve our goals. 

Scott Watson, City of Charleston, Director of Cultural Affairs

• In what ways your organization was most impacted by the pandemic in 2020 and into early 2021?
  • The shutdowns and reductions in capacity associated with COVID-19 starting in March 2020 greatly impacted the scope of our programming and operations. For calendar year 2020, our investment in presenting and producing public programs dropped by roughly $950,000 compared to previous years, with 2021 (at present) likely to still be down by $750,000 from past years. What is more troubling than our scaling back festivals and exhibitions is our awareness that our local arts constituents remain in a moment of peril, as there does not appear to be a clear path forward to move past the pandemic. We continue to provide technical assistance and promotional support for those projects that are able to proceed, but we recognize that we need to anticipate a protracted impact from the pandemic as the local arts community looks to bounce back.
• How is your organization faring as the fall ramps up? Any unexpected or recent impacts, adjustments, or changes over the course of the summer?
  • The Delta variant and breakthrough cases of COVID-19 among vaccinated individuals has posed a major challenge to our ability to ramp up for the fall. At this point, we are starting to amend our plans as far as Spring 2022, recognizing that new, locally produced, in-person work may not be a realistic expectation in the near term, and that we will need to continue to work in blended modes for the foreseeable future.
• How can folks in your community best support the arts? And how can they best support your organization, specifically? 
  • People should be alerted to the fact that many of the safety nets that buoyed the arts sector in recent months (CARES Act, PPP and SBA programs, ARPA) will not be renewed as we press on into 2022 and 2023. Obviously, individual giving should be encouraged – particularly while donors can benefit from tax-deductible gifts – but it is also important for the public at large to voice their support and concern for the arts to elected officials at the local, State and Federal levels. Sustaining recent increases in government funding for the arts and culture could prove transformative in the years ahead, and continued advocacy to expand work around diversity, inclusion, and equitable participation can similarly help the arts build back better.