Re-Starting Downtown Business - Idea No. 2 - Promoting the Arts (with no arts...)
It has been a hard week to cap off an overall disastrous time for both the arts and tourism industry. We saw the cancelling of the seasons for the Victoria Symphony, Dance Victoria and Pacific Opera. This loss goes on top of the ongoing closure of theatres and other venues around the city. These institutions can not easily be rebuilt if they fall apart as they are the sum of both their current talent and their history and success over the years. Still on the other side of it, we have a deadly virus that for now, here, has been slowed, but it wouldn’t take much to have it regain its strength and large gatherings in the confines of old theatres are not going to be attractive places for audiences for quite some time. It is a challenging and sad problem for sure.
Victoria has for many years been in a unique and fortunate place when it comes to the arts. That is because, despite our smaller size, we have been able to have world class institutions due to the large amount of visitors our city has. Looking specifically at the Victoria Symphony, the Symphony Splash is perhaps its most important event of the year, both due to the money that can be collected and the wide promotional value of the spectacle. Without it alone the symphony would have significant problems, but this goes way beyond that and it will be very hard for the symphony to come up with a way to restart without significant help.
So what is the solution to the loss of these arts events and possibly the institutions themselves? In the world as it is, how can we enjoy their beauty and at the same time provide them the funding sustenance that they need? I know that NASCAR may have gone online, and it might work in the short term to help support them, but over the next many months we need to find a way for us to safely enjoy theses institutions.
I saw an image that was shared on twitter about creating safe spaces for those living in cities, so that they can get outside and enjoy some sun on a lawn. While I am not suggesting that, I do think that we could use some of our many wide open spaces to create performance venues where we could provide enough space to set up a stage and have perhaps a smaller number of people enjoy a show. Maybe it could be a combo of pay per view on Telus and Shaw and a live venue performance. Think of that twitter image, except in each circle are two chairs and a small bistro table. Perhaps make a deal with a few restaurants to sell packaged meals with a bottle of wine. But where?
So I think that we could easily do this in three different locations close to downtown. My favourite idea, but perhaps the most difficult logistically, would be Ogden Point. Here is a massive open space that is empty due to the epidemic, so it provides the perfect opportunity to change the use. Imagine the Symphony set-up in a nicely spaced way near the covered seating created by the old train station at the western edge and a couple hundred spaced out tables stretching out to the back. There might be a need for some screens and speakers for those sitting near the back but it would be a truly magical and safe setting. The only challenge might be the weather as it can be quite windy at Ogden Point, even when the rest of the city is calm.
My second option would be the gravel lots at the southwest corner of Beacon Hill Park, again this provides enough space to provide tables and chairs for everyone. Here I would set the stage on the edge where the slope up Beacon Hill begins. Perhaps set it up in a semi circle and have the tables spaced in an arc around it. Imagine a warm summer night with a well spaced dance performance on the stage while you get to sit at your table and enjoy a nicely packaged meal from one of the excellent restaurants in James Bay or Fairfield. This location is a bit better weather wise over Ogden Point but it could still get a little bit windy. You would also have to deal with the whole no commercial activity thing in the park, but we could ignore it.
The last venue is perhaps the easiest one as we use it as a performance venue already, Ship Point. The only difference that would need to be made would be to identify the spaces for the couples to watch from. The restaurant delivery options are even more substantial downtown. Imagine La Traviata echoing across the Inner Harbour as you get to eat a pizza from Fiamo’s or a pasta from Il Terrazzo or even a cioppino from Ferris’. It would be pretty magical.
Rather than just cancelling everything is there a way that we can support the arts and the service industry while still ensuring the safety of the public and the performers? I think so. I would love to hear if you have any ideas for how we could have performances around downtown. If there is an opportunity to allow us to continue to support the arts at this time then we should.