Last Tuesday night, September 1st, performing arts organizations around the country illuminated their buildings in red light as part of a campaign to highlight the fact that live event workers have had their entire livelihoods destroyed by the pandemic. From my living room, the San Francisco Ballet building looked eerie with its office lights glowing demonically.
The only arts workers still employed and drawing a salary are administrative staff, highlighting the irony that one of the only ways to make a living in the arts in America is to be on the back end, and that's always been a shaky proposition too.
According to the lobbying group We Make Events, which organized the Red Alarm, "77% of people in the live events industry have lost 100% of their income, including 97% of 1099 workers." They are urging people to write to Congress,
and have offered an easy template at their website here. California, especially its Unemployment division and freelancer tax codes, also needs to step up because performing artists in this state are being devastated from every direction
Based on the blog posts/mailings called "Backstage with Matthew," at least some non-admin staff at SFO are still working: the scenery shop in Burlingame is working on sets and a new orchestra shell. However, we have no idea what's going on there with the orchestra and chorus.
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa: Yes, I hear the SF Opera are being non-communicative jerks with their full-time artists and the press. Not a good look.
ReplyDelete