Putting on high-quality, community-based music, dance and theater performances has always been difficult for small cities. But amidst arts budget cuts at all levels of government and a post-recession dip in philanthropy, local performing arts groups’ budgets are tighter than ever. At the same time, audiences are growing older, and directors are being challenged to perform works that better reflect the increasing diversity of their communities. Redlands, however, supports an incredible array of community-based performance. The Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival is the oldest continuously running U.S. music festival at which no admission is charged. Redlands supports theater groups like LifeHouse, Redlands Footlighters and the Redlands Theatre Festival. What is Redlands’ secret to nurturing a dynamic performing arts scene? How do local groups keep the support of old audiences–and attract new ones? Redlands Community Music Association executive director Beverly Noerr, Music Changing Lives CEO Josiah Bruny, LifeHouse Theater president Wayne R. Scott, and Redlands University theatre professor Victoria Lewis visit Zócalo to discuss what Redlands, a small city with a rich tradition of community-based performance, can teach other cities across California and the country.
Photo courtesy of Don Graham.
168 South Eureka St.
Redlands, CA
The Takeaway
Live Performance Will Never Die
Budgets Are Tight and Audiences Are Changing, but Communities Aren’t Going to Stop Expressing Themselves
Community-based arts programs in California’s Inland Empire are facing big challenges today. Funds are diminishing. Audiences are disappearing. So how can small-scale performers and venues survive? And what can Redlands, …