While many are thrilled with the reopening of patios and non-essential retail across Ontario, others, like those in the performing arts, are left waiting in the wings.
Rachel Schwarz is the artistic director at the Brio Academy and Studio Black Productions, and says it seems to boil down to a basic lack of understanding about the sector as a whole.
“It’s possible that some of the people that are making decisions don’t understand the intricacies of it and don’t know there are intricacies they’re missing,” Schwarz says. “I don’t think anyone is trying to do a disservice to the arts, but in not fully grasping what they’re dealing with, this huge mechanism, they’re missing a lot.”
Outdoor performances are included in step 3 of Ontario’s reopening plans, but Schwarz says there’s so much that goes into the planning and preparation for any kind of live performance.
Schwarz says the performing arts affect so many other sectors of the economy, including tourism, restaurants, and any businesses that rely on bringing people to the community.
“I think it’s the problem of probably lack of consultation with people who actually work in those industries. Like how long does it take to gather a cast and crew and mount a performance, secure rights, and all of the stuff that goes along with that. There are a lot of people that have bene laid off or furloughed since March of 2020.”
Schwarz says she’d love to see the community rally behind arts and culture in the same way some did to reopen golf courses, and pressure governments at all levels to better understand the role the sector plays in the economy.