Connection during COVID-19
I’m sure for many of you, some form of video conference technology has become much more commonplace since the onset of COVID-19.
This shift in how we “meet” and communicate is just one of the many changes that we have made over the past number of months. Adaptability and flexibility have become more important than ever in responding to this pandemic. Our carefully crafted plans must be increasingly meticulous to ensure health and safety protocols are upheld and to be able to respond to numerous scenarios.
Despite this preparation and planning, much of what is created falls under the heading of “tentative” right up until execution. This is true of most, if not all, workplaces right now and also extends to our social lives. Perhaps the tag line of “we are all in this together” feels a little worn, but it is just as true now as the day it was coined. This is a shared experience.
I recently attended a virtual meeting with a number of my community development colleagues. The topic of shared experiences bubbled up to the forefront of conversation, and we inevitably reflected on how much easier it was to make things happen before the pandemic. The question was raised, what do you miss most about our pre-COVID operations? The answer was unanimous — people. We miss the unfettered gathering of people. We miss the connection that is in place when the community comes together.
Something magical happens when community members of all walks of life come together in a shared space for a shared experience. There is an energy in the air. It inspires and fosters creativity, belonging and resiliency. It is the concert, the cultural festival, the reception; it is the discussion, the artist demonstration, and the carefully curated exhibitions that speak to who we are. It is the tending of collections that hold our community memories.
Working in arts and culture, we have the opportunity to plan and deliver such meaningful experiences. The culmination of these efforts contributes toward the safekeeping and nurturing of community identity and culture, our heritage, our stories, our expressions and our shared human experiences. It contributes to a unique sense of place, injects vibrancy in public spaces and into the community.
While our shared human experience continues to be a COVID-19 reality and all of the uncertainty it entails, our desire for and appreciation of community is growing. In the meantime, we will continue to think more strategically and dynamically about what coming together may look like.
Perhaps it is a show of holiday cheer through the twinkling of Christmas lights, perhaps it is an online discussion, or a downtown Holiday Story Walk inspiring exploration with your cohorts. All of these things say hello, we are here and we are in this together.
Candace Lundrigan is the Esplanade’s Cultural Public Programmer