RICHARD L. SCHULTZ
CULTURAL ARTSMANAGER
CITY OF CARLSBAD
During this unprecedented crisis, the arts community, like many other business sectors, is experiencing challenges to their daily livelihood. The arts are defined by live interaction between artist and audience with powerful communication conveyed through theme, color, image, melody, action, thought and word. These experiences resonate on many levels, conscious and otherwise. With shelter-in-place orders, this live, in-person dynamic is not possible. Yet, artists from all genres pride themselves on an intuitive ability to react, reinvent and redefine. It’s that resourceful skill set that serves the arts sector during these unexpectedly difficult times.
Many arts organizations have gravitated to online experiences to stay connected with their audiences, while exploring a new business model to generate revenue. Locally, Carlsbad’s arts organizations have ventured forth into the virtual realm with innovative programming designed to keep the arts as part of daily life.
The Museum of Making Music is presenting MoMM@ Home, a series of live events exploring a variety of perspectives on music and creating music. On Museum Mondays, curator Dr. Jonathan Piper presents interesting tidbits about the history and impact of instruments. Wednesdays are for kids and families with instructions on how to make your own instrument at home or a musical story time. On Fridays, Creator Corners engage composers, producers, musicians, conductors in lively discussions around their art. Visit the Museum’s website www.museumofmakingmusic.org for upcoming sessions and recordings of past episodes.
New Village Arts, Carlsbad’s professional theatre company, launched New VIRTUAL Arts showcasing favorite local artists who are creating unique digital content daily. Everything from cabarets and concerts, to art and dance lessons plus meditation workshops, kids’ programming, talk shows, and much more are presented free. NVA is also presenting Streamin’ Shakespeare with unique digital adaptations of the Bard’s most beloved works. www.newvillagearts.org
The City’s Library & Cultural Arts Department also developed new ways to deliver arts and literary experiences. The City’s Cultural Arts Office launched a new At-Home Art Projects page on the city website. Their arts education instructors created activities that anyone can do from home with a few basic materials, a willingness to try something new and a creative spirit. These projects include art lesson plans, coloring sheets based on Carlsbad’s public art and theatre activities that will get you up, moving and vocalizing along the way! https://cityadmin.carlsbadca.gov/services/depts/arts/education/artathome.asp
Recently, the Carlsbad City Library presented an online author talk with teacher and coach Erik Conklin who spoke about mindfulness for stress management, discussing the neuroscience behind the practice of mindfulness, and leading viewers through exercises that can be done from home to manage stress and anxiety. Featured on the city’s cable access and YouTube channels, Conklin has been a popular speaker with the Library & Cultural Arts Department’s health and wellness workshops, the Good Life Lecture Series. Community Relations Manager Jessica Padilla-Bowen commented, “We’re proud to move lectures to a format accessible from home.” The City of Carlsbad government channel plays City Council meetings and other government programming of interest to the Carlsbad community on Charter Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable) channel 24 and AT&T U-Verse channel 99 and online at: www.carlsbadca.gov/news/citytv.asp