Art Belongs in Communities

But Small, Local Performing Art Organizations Have to Fight for Relevance in a Digital Age

The way Americans engage with the performing arts is rapidly changing. We have instant access to millions of songs on the phones we carry with us everywhere. We can stream theater and dance shows whenever we want from the comfort of our living rooms.

The upshot of this constant access is that more people than ever can experience great performances; it requires just a click, not an expensive ticket. But the downside is that live shows are losing their audiences. For small-scale, community-based performers, this is especially problematic. Often short …