Fireside Chat, Interview
Kara Medoff Barnett, Executive Director of American Ballet Theatre
- Plans to elevate individuality over "exquisite sameness" and celebrate diversity to enable the organization to thrive for the next 80 years.
- The crisis is expected to serve as catalytic fuel for invention, resulting in turbocharged reach and relevance for the art form and company.
- The organization intends to maintain a broader definition of the widest possible audience post-pandemic, specifically after vaccination achieves herd immunity.
- A "test kitchen mentality" will continue in 2021, featuring experiments with outdoor performances in non-traditional venues like parking lots and parks to reduce access barriers.
- Creation of compelling digital content is expected to provide the opportunity to reach significantly more people than traditional physical venues.
- Future goals include bringing ballet directly to individuals, removing the necessity for access to red velvet seats or high-speed internet.