April 1, 2020
GPAC Friends,
One month ago, a sell-out audience sat in the magnificent GPAC theater, enraptured and enthralled — uplifted by the songs and spirit of the late Ray Charles, the very first of many giants to perform in our space. On the verge of completing our most successful season EVER, with 11 sold-out shows and the highest number of patrons, subscribers, donors, and sponsors in our history, we were excitedly looking forward to the imminent opening of our new outdoor performance venue, The Grove. We had announced with much fanfare our 26th Season and begun a robust wave of ticket sales. Interest and participation in our arts exhibitions, dance classes, youth symphony program, and adult arts education programming were at an all-time high. GPAC and its staff delighted in our roles, bringing outstanding arts and cultural experiences to our community and planning for the next 25 years.
Much has changed since then. I would not be honest if I didn’t say that GPAC faces enormous challenges as we adapt to keep our patrons and our staff safe and do our part to help slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The performing arts center is closed to the public, most staff are working remotely, and all part-time staff has been temporarily laid off. Events have been postponed and canceled, ticket sales are drastically low, and we’re grappling with the critical effects of abruptly lost revenue. Everything on the schedule between now and the end of April has been scuttled, and May is very much up in the air. We are still planning for next season, but it’s one that will potentially look drastically different from what we had planned. Time will tell.
Meanwhile, ever mindful of our mission “to present the highest quality artistic endeavors to educate, engage, enrich and transform,” we are coming up with new and creative ways to connect with our patrons and students. We are now operating in ways that support social distancing but feed our collective hunger for the arts.
Staff has created online instructional and virtual dance videos for our ballet students.
Our youth symphony students are engaging in a Listening Project, in which they share music pieces that bring them peace and calm. GPAC Youth Symphony staff are developing ways to complete the season virtually, with music appreciation lessons and one-on-one rehearsals via Zoom.
We are continuing with ArtsLaunch, the City of Germantown’s public art master plan development project, which is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Plans for community engagement around the subject of public arts in Germantown will now move online and occur via social media.
Keenly aware of our responsibility as a leading arts organization in our region, we are also taking steps to help the artistic community.
Via social media, we are sharing tools and resources for aid to artists and musicians, as we know so many have been dreadfully hard hit.
Mindful that we are not alone in the impact the virus has had on our operations, our board and staff are also advocating at the local, state, and national levels for relief efforts that would include non-profit arts groups, theaters, and artists.
Ever amazed by the ingenuity and adaptability of the artistic community, we are sharing positive stories and arts experiences being offered virtually across the nation.
Throughout this entire season, we have stood on stage and encouraged you to join us as we embrace the challenge of growth and plan for our future. Today, although the challenges before us are significantly different, we need you to join us more than ever! We know that you share our belief that the arts inspire and heal, that you crave the creative connection we experience through the arts, and that you look forward to the day we can gather again — in The Grove and on the GPAC main stage. We do, too. Quite honestly, we are going to need your support to get there.
May you and your families stay safe and well!
Paul Chandler
Executive Director
