The more than year-long pandemic has taught us much to take into the future together.
One of the things many Ovations’ Members have mentioned to us is how our human need to gather and to belong — to groups, to communities, to a place and to each other — have been made more visible by our social isolation.
For the past year, Ovations has been working hard to find new ways to bring us together in this strange world that has demanded we isolate ourselves: new ways to meet our mission of advancing our social, cultural and economic well-being through the performing arts.
“[I’m] impressed with how well Portland Ovations has innovated/been responsive and agile in the face of Covid in bringing the arts to the area virtually. The alliance with Indigo Arts has been a real bonus.”
And it has been the support of our Members, those who belong to Ovations, that has made possible these innovations in virtual and live events for audiences of all ages. Because we are better together, when we seek and discover ways to actively belong to our communities.
The loyalty, commitment, passion and generosity of Ovations’ Members during this past year has ensured this locally-grown, locally-raised arts organization thrives into this, our 90th anniversary year. Thank you.
And in return, we hope you experience the myriad of gifts of belonging to an organization that brings multiple communities together to become one during the shared performance experiences we create.
“I feel connected by my Membership contribution.”
Whether you felt that sense of belonging in walking by Ovations’ visiting artist Machine Dazzle’s windows at MECA in the fall of 2019 or later that season during our guided Freedom Walk around Portland; or this pandemic September at Performances in Our Parks with virtuosic artivist Daniel Bernard Roumain on the back of a flatbed truck touring the city so we could enjoy LIVE music safely outdoors together; or just yesterday, at our virtual Member Luncheon with one of Palaver Strings’ musicians, Lysander Jaffe in a wonderful talk about 20th century Russian music and in particular Sunday’s upcoming virtual performance of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Whenever and however you feel it, Ovations’ creates ways for us to belong.
“We are so grateful to have Ovations in Portland. Special program offerings to Members have given us an unprecedented variety of choices, and has assisted us in expanding our cultural repertoire; staff presence at each show/event makes us feel welcomed and appreciated; and, as long-time Members of Portland Ovations, we have been made to feel that we are a very important part of the Portland cultural scene.Thanks for all you do – we love your enthusiasm, your creativity and your outreach and communication.”
Thanks to you, we’ll be back in 2021-2022, bringing you LIVE performances and chances to gather, both in person and virtually.
You can belong to Ovations’ communities any time, in many ways. One of the best ways to ensure you experience all the ways we gather people is to become a Member. And if you are already one of our Member family: thank you. We couldn’t do what we do without you.
