By Steven Wolff
As we look forward, we must reimagine how we connect with people (artists, employees, board members, partners, audiences and communities), redesign programs and services, and reinvent business models. Along the way we must also reframe our place in community, serve as anchor institutions, and shift perspectives from beneficiary of recovery to partner in recovery.
In just a few short weeks, the COVID-19 health crisis has had an unprecedented impact on our world-wide economy 
and social environment. In this paper, we describe a five-stage framework: focusing on resilience, readiness, reimagination, recapitalization, and return.
Because arts venues were the first to close and may be among the last to re-open, a myriad of issues may emerge; from the time and conditions required to restart ‘the art’ to customer willingness to be in large venues; from the economic impact of closure to the necessary resources (leadership, human and financial) to return.
There will be much change in the arts and culture space in the coming months. It is a real opportunity for anchor cultural institutions to evolve and step into more significant community development and public value roles.
Over the next weeks and months, AMS will continue to document and share examples of this evolution. We welcome your stories about innovative and creative examples of the public value of our sector and look forward to continuing the conversation. Look for future updates.
Steven Wolff is a Principal with AMS Planning & Research.
