As community activators, I bet you are spending some of your time these days much like I am; watching this national crisis unfold and trying hard to imagine what lies ahead. It’s a lot to handle—the concerns, the constant change, and the uncertainty—all caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. All of us are thinking about our families near and far and about the plans we made to celebrate creativity through our programs and projects. We know also that, for the time being, and for our safety, we must rethink those plans and refrain from gathering. The very thing we work so hard to realize seems to have been taken from us – making art and sharing joy, laughter, and wonder with our community.

There is one thing we can do – stay connected. I’m inviting you to our first virtual arts town hall meeting this Thursday, April 2 at 10:30 a.m. This gathering can be accessed via zoom by clicking here:

Meeting ID: 190 111 936

Password: 398596

We’ll talk about our mutual concerns, figure out who’s already tackled challenges others may be facing, and share some resources. We thank you for staying strong, for understanding that we all have to pivot, and for finding the opportunity in this situation. (That bottle of hand sanitizer may be half full yet.)

Ann, Audra, Amber, and I are working remotely, ready to help you access the resources you need to cope and even excel in the days ahead. We may not have definitive answers, but we commit to listening, troubleshooting with you and helping you make well-informed decisions for your organizations and the audiences you serve.

Let us know if you can join us on Thursday. I look forward to talking with you.

Margie Reese

Executive Director

Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture