V
V
hile the arts have become more
, accessible to Nebraskans. some local
j arts councils are having problems
f getting people to attend events. Ron
V Bowlin. director of Kimball Hall at
I'M. says Nebraskans recently have become more
cautious when spending money on entertainment
because of the economy.
In Ogallala, a farming-ranching community in
western Nebraska, the agriculture crisis and gen
eral decline in the economy has affected the
o State Art Associationa
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amount of local donations to the Ogallala
Regional Arts Council, said council president
Laurie Wrage. When the council was formed
about 10 years ago, she said, the community
"was extremely enthusiastic.
"But now people who were giving $100 are
giving $50," she said. Most of the donations come
from businesses. And in a smaller town, busi
nesses feel the crunch of a sagging rural econ
omy, she said.
Most of the work at the community arts coun
cils is done by volunteers, but costs remain high.
In Ogallala, Wrage said, more than 20 hours of
volunteer work went into preparing for the Tulsa
Ballet of Tulsa, Okla. The Dec. 9 performance will
cost the council $4,700, plus advertising.
Wrage said she is concerned that not enough
will come out for the show. Attendance has been
low. she said. For most of the shows, about 1 SO
people have been attending.
"If we only get SO people there, we have to
wonder if this is worth it or not," Wrage said.
She and other volunteers have either full- or
part-time jobs that don't let them go out to
different groups and encourage them to attend
the shows. Wrage said.
Some experts say exposure to the arts is
important during tough economic times, so
Nebraskans" money would be well spent.
"This mav be hard to swallow.' said Bowlin of
Kimball Hall, "but when times are tough, the arts
are most important because they bring people
together, and togetherness is important in trying
times.
"The challenge is to provide shows that coun
ter the sense of futility and hopelessness," he
said.
Once such example was the play "Quilters,"
which played at Kimball two years ago. The play
expressed the joys and hardships of farming on
the PlaiiisT
"Art should be a way of helping people cope
with the times," he said.
But not all of the empty seats can be blamed
on the economy, experts say. Nebraskans tastes
also have something to do with it.
Said Wrage of Ogallala: "A certain faction of
the community is artsy. If the shows are too
classical, some people won't come."
Sometimes, Ogallalans are unwilling to try
something new. she said. The 60- to 75-year-olds
"are at everything," she said, but the children
and the parents don't come often enough.
Wrage said she'd like to raise support for the
arts in her community by bringing in a popular
performer like Frank Sinatra. A big name might
beef up the declining membership, she said.
ebraskans' taste for arts has changed
"over the years, Bowlin of Kimball said.
In the early 1970s, Nebraskans.
especially students, were more inter-
ested in seeing serious performances
than they are today. The social and political
climates were more active then, he said, which
may have contributed to Nebraskans" willingness
to experience different art forms.
Nebraskans were more willing 10 years ago to
see classical musical shows than they are today,
he said. At that time, about 10 classical music
performances were shown each year in Kimball
Hall. Today, however, about six are shown each
year, Bowlin said, and attendance of those show s
is down.
"Today there's more interest in being enter
tained than being challenged." he said. Perfor
mances now are more geared toward the individ
ual his or her desire to get a job and be
successful.
"It (the trend) verifies that the arts are an
expression of the times," he said.
One reason some Nebraskans don't attend
shows, especially classical shows, is because they
think they won't understand them. Lusk said.
To help educate audiences about complex
operas or plays, some officials have started
Nebraskans' tastes
in the arts
have changed.
Bowlin
organizing sessions scheduled just before per
formances to enlighten audiences on what they're
about to' see. Over the past 1 5 years, the stage at
Kimball Hall has seen a broad representation of
American and European arts both traditional
and modern theater, music and dance, Bowlin
said. Kimball has managed to attract well-known
groups such as Alvin Ailey, an East coast dance
company.
Bowlin said Nebraskans get a good deal. A
show in New York City or Boston often costs
about $50, he said. In Nebraska, a show of similar
quality and content will cost between $10 and
$15.
In Scottsbluff. the Western Nebraska Arts ("en
ter opened in the early 1970s. -The building
displays visual art shows throughout the year.
They also have a performing arts series that has
included such plays as "Pinnochio" and "The
Nutcracker Suite."
The center's administrative assistant, Molly
Kyle, says the center also offers foreign films and
craft workshops. The gallery is used by many
local artists, says director and visual arts coordi
nator. Lanny Fiegenschuh.
"We offer something that no one else can
offer in the area." he said.
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