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Hennessy: For the sake of the arts and community, get vaccinated
Letter To The Editor

From Kathy Hennessy

Executive Director, Monroe Arts Center

To the Editor:

Each day I grow more weary and more frustrated; mostly though, each day I grow more concerned over the state of our nation’s return to a post pandemic life. I am concerned over the future of the arts and how small nonprofit arts organizations will survive if we cannot reopen. 

The Monroe Arts Center closed to the public on March 18, 2020 and, for the most part, has remained closed since then. Although we have found ways for the public to access the galleries, indoor entertainment shows have been canceled, weddings and other events have been canceled, in-person classes for both children and adults have been canceled until recently. We found ways to stay connected with our community virtually, but it’s not the same. 

We want to get back to work for our community! We have an entire season put together as we plan our reopening for late October. We are desperate to welcome the public back into MAC. Right now, that is all in jeopardy as the Delta variant of COVID-19 races across the United States, checked only by the vaccines.

This is not a political issue for us, it’s an issue of survival at this point and we need your help. Please. Get. Vaccinated. Please get vaccinated so we can get back to living our lives. I am not going to list all the reasons people should be vaccinated. Visit the CDC website, those reasons are all listed there. I am not going to list all the reasons why the vaccines are safe, visit the CDC website, those reasons are all listed there. What I will tell you is that if you want our arts institutions to stand, we need to get back to work and that is in your hands right now. It is not overstated to say that our future survival depends on your decision today to get vaccinated.

We live in a generous community that loves and supports the arts. That is the reason the Monroe Arts Center has survived the difficulties of the past year. Can we survive another year of interruptions and shut downs? Maybe, but there are no guarantees. I am asking you, if you have not been vaccinated yet, please become part of the solution and help us get back to doing what we do best; creating shared experiences with our community.