Messages from Allison Balcetis (President) and Ian Crutchley (Artistic Director) regarding season cancellation
Hello NME Friends,
It’s been a scary and sad month and a half to say the least. Over the past several weeks we went from furiously planning our annual March festival to – basically in the span of about 48 hours – cancelling it and immediately deciding we needed to pay these cancelled artists as fast as we could. After that we quickly looked at the rest of our season and in a matter of days came to the conclusion that it, too, must be cancelled. It felt like trees being felled one after the other. At least, though, I feel comfort knowing that these tough decisions were made out of concern for public safety, that there was no question we could try to make this work, and that we could still pay our artists.
So now that our season obligations are looked after, we are continuing the business of making NME run! There are grants to apply for, as usual, but we’re also brainstorming how NME will continue its mission in the fall of 2020 and beyond. I am very excited about these initiatives and can’t wait to share them with you once they’re more solidified.
Wishing you all peace at home and good health,
Allison Balcetis
President, New Music Edmonton
ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (amiskwaciy), Treaty 6 Territory
Dear Friends,
I want to start by thanking my colleagues at New Music Edmonton for their support, initiative and vision during this time. While we are still reeling somewhat from having to cancel the remainder or our season, I can let you know that NME is still active, still planning, and still intending to deliver great artistic content to you in the months to come.
In cancelling events, our priority has been the welfare of the artists. Without hesitation, and with unanimity, The NME Board determined right away that the only appropriate course of action was to pay the artists, and our temporary staff, the full amounts that would have been due had the events gone ahead.
“Artistic welfare” means more than just money, though – there is also the uneasiness, and questioning of motiviation for creatives that comes with the absence of audiences, colleagues, and target dates for work. Rest assured, we share this uneasiness, are thinking about it daily, and determined to find solutions.
I am currently doing some posts on Facebook – mostly about our cancelled artists so far. Feel free to contact me through the GM, if you have thoughts or ideas you would like to share.
Please take care of yourself – stay in and stay safe! We’ll be here through this crisis, and better than ever on the other side of it!
Ian Crutchley
Artistic Director, New Music Edmonton
ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (amiskwaciy), Treaty 6 Territory