October 2010 Field Letter
Written on September 26, 2010
Dear Friends,
TCG recently updated its values statement to focus on the following
principles: artistry, diversity, activism and global citizenship.
Why global citizenship? When TCG was founded in 1961, Mac Lowry
of the Ford Foundation stated that one of his objectives in funding
this new venture was to help connect everyone and to combat provincialism
among theatres—including New York theatres—that might
arise as they established themselves in towns and cities across
the U.S. Since that time, a rich and diverse theatrical community
has blossomed in our nation. Through conferences, research, collaborations
and shared professional development opportunities, this community
has become interconnected and in communication with one another.
And while they are very in tune stateside, it occurs to us—in
part because of geography—that the U.S. and the U.S. theatre
community are not quite as integrated with the vast theatre community
that has evolved across the world. The theatre community has begun
to move towards a more global consciousness and TCG is supporting
that move. It was observed in the late 1960s that the mere founding
of TCG helped a small group of theatres feel as if they were part
of a national movement. Going forward, TCG fully expects that this
national movement will become a global one.
Recently, the power of this notion has been demonstrated over and
over again. TCG’s national conferences have hosted theatre
practitioners from around the world—16 countries were represented
in Chicago. From September 23-26, Theatre Without Borders hosted
“Acting
Together on the World Stage,” which focused on the role
of theatre in peace-building. The program attracted attendees from
35 countries and a capacity crowd of over 200 participants—some
of whom have been in attendance at TCG conferences in the last several
years. Our community is widening exponentially and globally, and
new collaborations are being sparked every day. If you read my columns
and Field Letters over the last year or so, you know that TCG has
lead some extraordinary delegations of U.S. theatre practitioners
at festivals, such as the Festival
Internacional de Teatro de Bogotá this past March and
Fira Tàrrega
in Spain in September.
One of the things we share across the globe is the challenge of
measuring and articulating the value of an activity that is intended
to affect the mind and the soul—versus something more concrete,
such as a brick and mortar project. I’ve heard repeatedly,
in one form or another, conversations having to do with funding
for international peace-building projects: “If you receive
$100,000 to build a clinic, you can show the clinic. If you receive
$100,000 to change people’s mindset through theatre, that’s
a bit more difficult to prove.”
We realize that connecting globally is not a top priority for every
TCG member theatre. However, just as there is a multiplier effect
to the relationships and knowledge-sharing that occurs within our
borders today, we believe that the same benefit will accrue for
our entire community as we move forward in support of increased
global connection.
In addition to this global connectedness, TCG continues to be involved
with our peer national service organizations in the U.S. Follow
up continues on the National Performing Arts Convention and our
colleagues just spent an afternoon assessing progress on the key
action items. Since the Denver Convention in 2008, we've created
a much needed web resource with a focus on our five priorities for
action: advocacy, artists, diversity, education and technology.
We've also facilitated new cross-disciplinary convenings in cyberspace.
In June, several NSO conferences were made available on the all
new "Virtual NPAC" and our national conferences focused
on some of the issues raised in Denver. Building from this platform,
we will take further definitive action on specific priorities, which
we are currently evaluating. And our Performing
Arts Alliance (PAA) continues to monitor nine or more issues
affecting the arts at the federal level.
Speaking of advocacy, the FCC has ruled on the White Space issue.
The Commission unanimously agreed to permit the operation of new
White Space devices in the spectrum, but also imposed protections
for licensed and unlicensed wireless microphones, such as those
used in the performing arts. Specifically, there will be two TV
channels reserved nationwide for wireless microphones. If a wireless
microphone user needs more spectrum than these channels, they may
register their uses in a geo-location database. Commissioners remarked
during the FCC meeting that they had gone to great lengths to meet
the needs of wireless microphone users and to balance the needs
of all interested parties. More details will soon be forthcoming
in the TCG Bulletin
and in the Advocacy
section of our website.
October marks the return of Free
Night of Theater. Best of luck to all of you who are participating
in the event in some way. TCG continues to host a national reservation
website and provide technical assistance to communities across the
U.S. that are involved in the event. And of course, we are active
in the New York Free Night of Theater program that has
been generously funded by our own Department of Cultural Affairs.
Last note: here’s a useful information tool for board development
in these continuing tough times when boards are so crucial to our
fundraising efforts: “
Ten Cool Ways to Use Board Members to Up Your Donorability.”
Until next month, all the best,
Teresa Eyring
Executive Director