Page 18 - Layout 1

CRCCE0920.qxp_Layout 1 9/8/20 12:29 PM Page 16

Arts & Culture

KEEPING THE

By Jennifer Nayak-Feldman

A season of improv for
cultural organizations and the

audiences who miss them

roward County cultural and arts events are more
than just seasonal fun these days, enhancing our
Btourism mecca and attracting fans of all ages to the
area to attend local theater, beachfront music festivals, live
jazz, food & wine events. According to the Broward
Cultural Affairs Division, the largest supporter and funder
of local artists organizations, the impact of spending by
nonprofit arts and cultural organizations is far reaching.
“Sixty three percent of nonresident- survey -respondents
indicated that the primary purpose of their visit to Broward
County was “specifically to attend this arts/cultural event.”
Whether serving the local community or out-of-town visitors,
a vibrant arts and culture industry helps our local economy
thrive. Funding for the arts during the pandemic, however,
has been imperiled. Congress is now considering the Save
our Stages Act or #THESOSACT, a bill authorizing the
Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to
eligible live venue operators, producers, promoters, or
talent representatives to address the economic effects of the
COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic on photo by Jason Nuttle
certain live venues.
Center hosts an annual audience of more than 600,000
This season needs art patrons like no other. Local sponsors, people, working with an estimated $58 million budget and
community trust donors and supporting members have contributing more than $90 million to the local economy.
stepped in to share resources, waive grant requirements Finishing 2019 with the highest grossing season, thanks to
and renew membership; others are sharing resources, national tours of Tony award-winning shows like
providing health guidance for staff, facility upgrades and "Hamilton”, Broward Center was able to move ahead with
advice for safely reopening venues. renovations of the historic Parker Playhouse and continue
I sat down with Broward Center for the Performing Arts as a provider of arts education for local students. Broward
CEO, Kelley Shanley, to discuss how he and other key Center has stayed true to a community commitment of
leaders nationwide are responding to the threat of connecting artists with audiences through performance and
coronavirus and its’ impact on the creative economy. education.

CEO since 2009, Kelley Shanley has led the Broward “Pivot is the word of the year,” Shanley says via Zoom
Center to stratospheric levels of success. The Broward from his home office, a space filled with vintage stage and

16 CORAL RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES HOA
16
A
TES HOA
CORAL RIDGE COUNTR
Y CLUB EST