Intertwining Economic Profiles
This is an attempt to offer an economic profile of Control Group, and also of my personal finances, which are distinct but intertwined in how they have supported my ability to pursue this work and grow this organization.
The goal of this is to share the path we’ve followed, in case that’s useful for other artists and organizations to refer to; and to offer transparency for donors, funders, audiences, partners, and members of the general public interested in understanding this facet of who we are. Maybe it will even help a little in dissolving our cultural taboo around talking about money (which I’m pretty sure is an oppression technique taught by the wealthy to the people who feed their wealth).
Your Support (Means So Much)
Here we are. We are here.
This has become a bit of a daily ritual through the last year. Each morning, we look around, get a handle on the shifting topography, check in with ourselves and the people around us, and set out together to find some goodness to share.
Through that process, in dialog with community and situation, I’m humbled to realize that we’ve managed some pretty potent work over the last twelve months. Things continue to be [what’s the opposite of smooth? Yeah, that]. But it’s good to feel the successes, and some strong momentum in exciting directions.
Unpacking “Expeditionary Performance”
I off-the-cuffed the term “Expeditionary Performance” to Kristine a year ago, and she immediately grabbed a hold of it, kept bringing it up and loving it more with every mention. It immediately resonated as a gathering place for most of what we’d been up to since founding Control Group together.
SAIVUE!
In 2020 we spent some time rethinking how we can bring more sustainability and responsibility to how we operate, how we collaborate, and how we participate in our community.
Among other things, we started developing an in-house emergency safety planning process that would support our nomadic programming model.
Safety & Accessibility at After the Flood
Accessibility is a priority for us. We are committed to working with every individual interested in seeing the show to accommodate their participation. Because of the site-specific and traveling nature of this production, we have identified the following accessibility challenges, which we look forward to working with you to address.
A Public Apology
Thank you for the heartfelt, complex conversation in December, set up by Kate Speer and facilitated by Helanius Wilkins. I'm filled with gratitude for all three of you for your generous, thoughtful participation in this process.
Fundraising Campaign
I’m writing today with a humble request for your support. If you’re currently tapped out, stressed out, struggling to make the basics work in the face of current challenges, please…
1.Know that you’re not alone;
2. Stop here, take three deep breaths, and do something kind for yourself;
3. Know that we’ll be in touch as soon as we have some awesome art to help you be in the world more richly.
A Letter to Our Community
This is an incredibly challenging time. Everyone I know is grappling with how to navigate the current extreme uncertainty, and in many cases experiencing excruciating losses of income, home, human connection, health, and the lives of loved ones. Within the performing arts, we are facing losses expected to total 50% or more of personnel, organizations, and resources.
