Even before the pandemic, the U.S. lagged significantly behind other industrialized countries in per capita arts spending.
Lily Janiak May 9, 2021Updated: May 12, 2021, 5:44 pm
Old show calendars decorate the wall of Bottom of the Hill, a venue that has been closed since March 2020. Photo: Marlena Sloss, Special to The Chronicle
One of the extraordinary phenomena of this pandemic has been the way that artists, administrators, advocates, companies and fans have come together to find new ways to support the performing arts after whole seasons were postponed, then postponed again, then postponed again indefinitely.
Even before the coronavirus outbreak, the United States lagged significantly behind other industrialized countries in per capita arts spending; COVID-19 only laid further bare how flimsy our support system for artists is.