News from Britt Hill – March 2026

IN MY non-working hours, I make a lot of mediocre art. I live alone and catch myself singing ridiculous songs aloud several times a day. I recently discovered oil pastels (which are essentially fancy crayons), and have been making joyful, ridiculous drawings of birds, flowers, and blocks of color in the evenings. I set a goal to decrease my “doomscrolling” on my smartphone by 50% this year, and having something to do with my hands, brains, and eyes at the end of the day has allowed me to finally make progress on that goal. And as I’ve done so, I’ve found myself feeling more… human.

Last week, I read David Brooks’ excellent final column for The New York Times, in which he articulated his longing for a return of humanism and connection. In it, he reflects that the humanities and arts have been relegated to a back burner as personal, governmental, and organizational priorities have shifted toward making as much money as possible. He observed that these losses play a significant role in our fraying connections with one another, and that—like any textile—our social fabric is unraveling without these crucial threads of connection.

I’m paraphrasing his words, but the column clanged through me like the ringing of a giant bell. This is my WHY. Britt is a nonprofit dedicated to creating arts events, not primarily as a means to making money, but to build community. The arts, particularly when created together or experienced live, put us in touch with the most elemental parts of our humanity. Did you know that when people sing in a choir, their heartbeats begin to align? While arts and entertainment are one of our nation’s most meaningful exports, representing 4.2% of our GDP, humans have been singing songs, telling stories, dancing, and painting on walls since a time well before our creation of currency. Some argue that our creative expression is one of the key identifiers that separates us from other mammals. I believe that the arts are among the highest manifestations of our humanity.

I rarely get personal in this column, which is—after all—focused on sharing Britt’s behind-the-scenes with you. But for me, this work is deeply personal, and I take my stewardship of your local arts organization to heart. Britt has amazing shows on the horizon, and I hope you will join us. We are deeply grateful for your ticket purchases and donations, which provide a living wage to the artists and musicians on stage and the Britt staff who are your neighbors, and allow us to maintain our park and ensure that our shows run safely and seamlessly. The reason we do this, the big WHY of our mission as a 501(c)(3), is so much bigger than a business proposition. Come to Britt to experience something that only exists for a few hours. Be here, fully present, with our acommunity. Walk home with memories of something extraordinary that happened for just a blink of a moment. Feel connection with the 2,000 other people who witnessed it. Relish your humanity, and the joy of being alive in this moment. This is the best of who we are, and the WHY that gets me up in the morning, excited to go to work.

I am counting down the weeks until I get to be back on the hill with you, and this year I’ll be especially aware of the human connections we are building together as we sing, dance, laugh, and sway to the music. It’s a privilege to do this work with you, to share this place with you, and I’m grateful.

All best, Abby