The season had been scheduled to launch in August and start producing in early September, but the center’s board and managed decided to postpone it due to the coronavirus pandemic and the inability to produce performing arts events in the center’s theater or ballroom, MacKenzie-Thurley said.
But in delaying the season’s start, Fitton Center also opted to extend it, as well, he said.
“Traditionally, the season is September through May, but we we’ll have the season start in January and then extend through into the summer months, which will take us into June and July,” MacKenzie-Thurley said. “With everything that’s going on at the moment, we just need to be open-minded and flexible.”
Putting together a season takes between 18 months and two years of planning, so rescheduling “takes a little more planning, as well,” he said.
“It’s not just about putting on the show and getting the artists, it’s about sponsorship, it’s about technical planning and it’s also about ticket sales. We have to have time to be able to promote the event and allow people to purchase tickets,” MacKenzie-Thurley said.
Having to delay the season is “incredibly unfortunate” and will result in ramifications that will affect next year, he said.
“We have funding and fundraising challenges that are going on right now. We’re going to see those extend in 2021,” MacKenzie-Thurley said. “We know that with our funding and community partners, they’re also having challenges. We have to be mindful of that and because of what’s been going on, the changes of this year, it’ll be a follow-on effect for everything we see.”
The Fitton Center for Creative Arts shut down under the state mandate from March through early June, but returned with a full season of summer camps, he said.
“We’ve worked closely with the city of Hamilton Health Department, who have been phenomenal ... in helping us prepare all of our policies and procedures for bringing kids in for summer camp,” MacKenzie-Thurley said. “They’ve been incredibly supportive.”
While it wasn’t able to offer programming and had to cancel the last five shows of the 2019-2020 season, the Fitton Center was able to provide a full summer of classes, he said.
It helps that the center has been able to enjoy “incredible support” from its patrons, members, donors and sponsors. It continues to have crucial support from its major funders: ArtsWave in Cincinnati, the Ohio Arts Council, the city of Hamilton and the Hamilton Community Foundation.”
The Fitton Center is working with the city of Hamilton to ensure it keeps functioning its core education and community outreach programs, including ones with Booker T. Washington Community Center and Boys & Girls Club of Hamilton.
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