Art and the Bottom Line Director of Artpace San Antonio, Riley Robinson, says the pandemic serves as a stark reminder that thriving arts institutions are not only integral to the city’s culture but also its economy
remember when Artpace first opened to the public in 1995. The building was full of energy and excitement as our first group of International Artists-in-Residence lived and created at Artpace. The galleries were full on opening night as founder Linda Pace and the Artpace team welcomed the community into one of the first spaces in the city dedicated to contemporary art. On March 14, 2020, Artpace closed to the public for the first time since its opening 25 years ago. As programming and events came to a pause and we were all trying to adjust to life in quarantine, funding for arts and culture suffered immensely. Not only were our significant fundraising events postponed, but funding from the city was cut due to the decrease in tourism. The struggle that all of San Antonio’s nonprofit arts and culture organizations found themselves in led to the development of what is now known as Culture and Arts United for San Antonio (CAUSA). CAUSA started out as a kind of support group where leaders from culture
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organizations around the city met online to share their struggles and advice. Eventually, CAUSA turned into an initiative that focuses on raising awareness for the contributions the arts have on the community—both culturally and economically. As of May 2021, the total economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on just arts organizations in Bexar County was $24 million, with an overall economic impact of $4.8 billion. Last year showed us that we cannot survive without the support and help of our community. It also made us realize that it’s not only important to emphasize the power of art as a catalyst for important conversations, but also as an integral part of the city’s economy. In July, we held an opening for our Summer 2021 International Artists-in-Residence. The exhibition opening featured an engaging artist talk followed by a live performance by one of the artists. It was refreshing to see our galleries open again and feel the support of our community. It served as a reminder that together, we can ensure San Antonio’s future economic and cultural vibrancy.
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ILLUSTRATION: DAVID G. LOYOLA; ROBINSON, ARTPACE: COURTESY ARTPACE; OTHER IMAGES: GRAPHIC GOODS
FINAL THOUGHT
SEPTEMBER 2021
8/5/21 11:09 AM
