NAVIGATING: Expanding Organizational Reach and Response through Adaptive Capacity Building

By: Caryn Cooper

It is safe to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives in different ways. From stay-at-home orders, unemployment, mask wearing, social distancing, to rising infection and death rates, are just a few ways that may have impacted you directly or indirectly over the past two years. We have also developed new phrases that one would only understand because of living in this time from “you’re on mute,” to “which vaccine did you get?” to “pivoting to a new normal.” It has changed the way we work, learn, move, interact and view the world. 

The creative sector was not a stranger to the many immediate effects of the pandemic. We have always been known to be resilient and able to roll with the punches as a result of lack of funding, space or other resources. But COVID-19, took our ability to be flexible to a new level. However, I think that it has brought on new opportunities that were blindspots. We were so caught up in conducting ourselves in the ways we have, that we never considered how we can be creative in how we approach the creative field. One of the challenges of our sector is finding new ways to expand our reach and response to the communities that we serve. The pandemic truly tested our capacity, our sustainability and forced us to really think outside the box. This provided new ways to be adaptive and make an impact. 

NEW APPROACHES

The below is not intended to be an exhaustive list, but just a few things that I have noticed in the field. I’m sure there are other trends and ideas that can be included here that are either specific to the region you are located or your connection to the creative field. But I do hope that I can share some insight to both current and evolving ideas. 

Building New Audiences

Our field has been struggling with our audience-base image of being gray (older) and for the elite. This created barriers in terms of engaging new and younger audiences. Traditionally to participate in the arts, it involved paying a fee to enter the creative space. But with stay-at-home orders and concerns of slowing the spread of the virus by limiting large gatherings, it made it impossible to see and create art. 

However, with everyone at home, the curtain became available to everyone and not just the few who could afford to enter the space. Since we weren’t limited to our usual audience base, it created a great opportunity to engage audiences that we would never have reached otherwise. Whether that was because we brought our art into new and atypical community spaces such as parking lots or a zoom room, it allowed us to be seen by new audiences in new ways. 

Embracing Technology

Technology has often been frowned upon in the creative sector. It has been known to take money out of artist pockets and/or dilute one’s artistic quality. However, during the pandemic, technology is what kept the arts going. It was through technology that brought movie premieres, concerts and classes into our homes. 

It was also through technology that we found new ways to create through a number of tools and mediums such as different apps and platforms. Finally, it was also through technology that kept us connected during such an isolated time. I may have been at home, but I could still connect with my friends and family and meet new people that I wouldn’t have otherwise. 

New Mission-Driven Programs

Many of us are in the creative sector with the intention of making an impact on our communities. The pandemic allowed the opportunity to be creative in how we serve others and how we define who makes up our community. I have seen many organizations develop new series of talks, workshops, performances and more that were the result of adaptive thinking. Many topics and themes emerged as a result of our experiences, feelings and notices during the pandemic. And with the support of technology, it allowed us to get the work done in a different way. I’m personally excited to see how this continues and expands. 

Creative Social Justice

The arts have always been a way to express one’s thoughts and opinions on many topics and ideas. But recently, I have seen how the arts can be a platform to advocate and do the work. This has been done through outdoor exhibitions and performances related to the experiences of social injustice towards various groups of people. I have seen nonprofit and youth serving organizations seek to provide training and opportunities for groups of people who have historically been marginalized and left behind. I have also seen community-based organizations use their resources to serve local and distant neighborhoods whether by providing meals, clothes and other items of need and support by the community.

What’s Next?

As I mentioned, this is not an exhaustive list, but rather a staring point for our discussions. What resonated with you? How are you and your colleagues in the create field adapting to expand your reach and build capacity?