News From Britt Hill – December 2020/January 2021

This year the COVID-19 pandemic systematically shut down the entire live music economy and ecosystem. Live music venues were the first to close and will be the last to reopen. Iconic assembly spaces like Britt Music and Arts Festival now face an unknown future. This summer the I-5 corridor that Britt depends on for booking shows was absent of tour buses. The town of Jacksonville was absent of our beloved BFO musicians. Lighthearted and enthusiastic conversations about upcoming shows were absent, too.

This was a year that tested all assumptions: about how Britt functions in an age of uncertainty; about what it means to truly deliver for our artists, patrons, and community; and about how performing arts venues can and should operate in a crisis. In such a challenging environment, Britt anchored itself to its mission. Fundamentally, Britt exists to bring joy and education through music and artistic excellence to our community.

Engagement continued throughout the summer with The BrittVids series every Tuesday and Thursday morning and the BrittKids Koncert Video series Wednesday mornings. These virtual programs featured some of your favorite local education artists.

The BFO went online in July and August as we revisited some of our favorite performances from past summers with Music Director Teddy Abrams. BFOnline featured wonderful past recordings, preceded by a discussion about each recorded work with Teddy, members of the BFO, and select guest artists and composers.

Over the years, Britt has helped thousands of musicians, performers, and employees make their livings. Britt Presents, Britt Festival Orchestra, and community events like the Jacksonville School Play and Children’s Festival provide cultural enrichment for our entire community. Britt has been the summer anchor for our businesses and an incubator for creative ideas. We all know that Britt is a place where moments happen. Those moments were missed this summer.

The disruptions to our concert season and local businesses this past year has made it clear that our challenges will require working together, now more than ever. For the sake of future generations, we must seek common ground with our neighbors and coexist as we meet the challenges of the future.

We believe that COVID-19 has given us more space to listen and new opportunities for healthy dialog. We are grateful to our community for our shared sacrifices. We welcome public commentary and suggestions for how we can better serve our friends and neighbors.

Alongside all of you, we will strive to make Britt the best citizen it can be as we enter the uncharted waters of 2021. Going forward, we will make every effort to ensure the legacy of Britt while taking intentional steps toward community harmony.

In the spirit of Jacksonville’s tree lighting ceremony, we wish you a safe and healthy Holiday Season.

Donna Briggs, President & CEO, Britt Music & Arts Festival
Dominic Campanella, Chair, Britt Board of Directors