Paper Mache
Did you know that it is legal to hunt swans in eight states? I thought about this this morning as I listened to waterfowl hunters greeting the new day a half hour before sunrise. Even as a hunter, I have always been hesitant to pursue this quarry afraid that a prince or princess might emerge as the swan meets its demise. Too many fantasy books as a child, I guess. Friends have told me that swan is quite delicious, but not enough of a temptation to draw me into the pursuit.
Like so many events, our beloved Swan Festival in the fall may or may not occur this year. We remain hopeful and have managed to put together a mindful, but very aggressive schedule of programs and events for 2021, virtual for the first half and then transitioning back to live later in the year.
Much of what we pioneered this year will remain intact. We learned that we could engage with a sometimes-broader audience with virtual programs. We will continue our talk shows like Artist’s Alchemy and All About the Arts. Tom Galvin will host a new season of Open
Mic events for poets and other writers. Diane Funston will continue Poetry Square with three guest poets each month. New programs include Poetry Hour: Notes from the Field with YubaSutter Poet Laureate, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo and Tom will introduce Solo Sessions with guest singer/ songwriters sharing original music.
At a recent virtual YSAC staff retreat, we all shared our dreams for our 40th anniversary year. Here are highlights. Build a network with like-minded organizations. Expand cultural programs in the community. Establish arts and culture as a bedrock of the community – something that cannot be ignored. Make art and culture an irrefutable and recognized part of economic development and a contributor to quality-of-life issues for residents. Gain more local governmental support and recognition. Be together as a team again in person.
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(Paper Mache is a weekly column about the arts community by David Read, director of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture.)