Outdoor Arts producers and artists are experienced at turning the most unpromising setting into a performance space, and their back-catalogue of shows is tailored for the outdoor. Could they be the first to woo back audiences in a socially distanced world? Angus MacKechnie looks ahead.
One of the main strengths of the Outdoor Arts sector is our ability to gather big crowds in public spaces – the antithesis of social distancing. Under normal circumstances, we avidly count the numbers lining the streets as a parade passes through a major city centre, or those watching a dance performance unfold on a seafront, or visiting a fire installation on a rural hillside, or taking part in a community event in a town square. Our intention is to attract attention… and audiences.
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Familiar voices may be muted this year, but some have found new ways to communicate with their audiences, and to reach new ones. Michael Eades asks some fundamental questions about the future for festivals.
Competition in the ‘experience economy’ combined with the circumstances of the pandemic mean it’s time for the cultural sector to think harder about the experiences that audiences would like to have – and are prepared to pay for, says Patrick Towell.
As live-to-digital capture, broadcast and live-streaming are embraced more widely in the rush to build up work online, emerging technologies and creative approaches are also bringing new experiences in very different ways. Marcus Romer explains.