 | Hi, Compass Family and Community, As many of you know, our slogan is Stretching Creativity and Bravery Muscles through Theatre. It’s certainly a time for both creativity and bravery. We hope you’re well, as we know that each community is having its own experience at different paces and realities with Covid19. Here in Chicago we’ve experienced rapid, heightened changes and we at Compass are among the many facing a rough road ahead and are working to quickly adapt to the consequences of the pandemic as our city is under a stay-at-home order through at least April 30th. |
So far, we’ve had to cancel all of our spring programming and events, begun navigating significant summer cancellations with many of our national partners, and anticipate there will be more cancellations to come. This means that Compass is likely facing a 60 - 80% loss of projected annual revenue for 2020 and these losses will likely continue into the following year as partnering organizations struggle to weather this storm as well.
I’ve been calling our partners to connect and find out about what’s happening locally in each community. As I’ve spoken to folks across the country, I’ve listened and shared in the fears and uncertainties that have surfaced in unique ways for each place, as well as being updated on the joys and victories our communities are also experiencing through these difficult times. It was through these conversations that I realized that we have the privilege of continuing being what Compass has always been: highly flexible and responsive to each of our community's needs.
I’ve been calling our partners to connect and find out about what’s happening locally in each community. As I’ve spoken to folks across the country, I’ve listened and shared in the fears and uncertainties that have surfaced in unique ways for each place, as well as being updated on the joys and victories our communities are also experiencing through these difficult times. It was through these conversations that I realized that we have the privilege of continuing being what Compass has always been: highly flexible and responsive to each of our community's needs.
So, we’ve begun to flex our creativity and bravery muscles in new ways to figure out what we could do to support our students, their families, and communities in the here-and-now, and bridge the gap Compass is currently facing financially.
Compass is simultaneously working on launching Compass@Home to create new digital theatre opportunities for our young artists and their families and working on preparing for the next time we can physically join our students.
So, we’re asking you to remain open to explore this wild west of online theatre programming with us and joining us for both our pay-what-you-can activities our more robust online classes and camps. This will allow us to continue to bring theatre to the places where kids already learn and play, and for now that’s mostly at home!
The monies collected from online programming, and any generous donations we receive at this time, will be the bridge between us and you that will help ensure our ability to overcome this unprecedented challenge and be back on the road soon!
When Cathlyn and I started Compass nearly eight years ago, we did so with the goal of providing programming that was accessible and affordable. As a community we’re now faced with new accessibility and financial challenges than we ever dreamed of when we started out on this journey - but that doesn’t change our mission.
We’re committed to being here for you during these uncertain times and we still want to be here with you when our world is able to emerge from this crisis, helping young artists find their voice, honing their empathy, trust, responsibility, and teamwork, in a world that will need those things more than ever.
We miss you, and we cannot wait to see you again online and in person! So, keep an eye out for emails and other communication about how you can engage with and how we can support each other.
Be well, stay safe, and join us for these new ways to stretch your creativity and bravery muscles!
-Cassandra Quinn and the Compass Team
Compass is simultaneously working on launching Compass@Home to create new digital theatre opportunities for our young artists and their families and working on preparing for the next time we can physically join our students.
So, we’re asking you to remain open to explore this wild west of online theatre programming with us and joining us for both our pay-what-you-can activities our more robust online classes and camps. This will allow us to continue to bring theatre to the places where kids already learn and play, and for now that’s mostly at home!
The monies collected from online programming, and any generous donations we receive at this time, will be the bridge between us and you that will help ensure our ability to overcome this unprecedented challenge and be back on the road soon!
When Cathlyn and I started Compass nearly eight years ago, we did so with the goal of providing programming that was accessible and affordable. As a community we’re now faced with new accessibility and financial challenges than we ever dreamed of when we started out on this journey - but that doesn’t change our mission.
We’re committed to being here for you during these uncertain times and we still want to be here with you when our world is able to emerge from this crisis, helping young artists find their voice, honing their empathy, trust, responsibility, and teamwork, in a world that will need those things more than ever.
We miss you, and we cannot wait to see you again online and in person! So, keep an eye out for emails and other communication about how you can engage with and how we can support each other.
Be well, stay safe, and join us for these new ways to stretch your creativity and bravery muscles!
-Cassandra Quinn and the Compass Team
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