Indigo Girls Join Umbrella's Largest-Ever Virtual Annual Meeting

New Board Members Introduced, Annual Report Published

In something of a silver lining for this COVID-impacted time, The Umbrella Arts Center hosted its largest-ever gathering for its annual meeting on the evening of December 15.  The event – normally held at 40 Stow Street – was conducted for the first-time entirely via Zoom, allowing a wider level of participation by distant, at-home, and traveling community members, donors, artists, and cultural organizations.

In addition to the usual "state of The Umbrella" updates and publication of our annual report, attendees were treated to a special recorded performance by noted musical duo The Indigo Girls, whose planned spring (and then fall) benefit concert \had to be postponed due to the pandemic. In a heartfelt video, the duo spoke about the importance arts education opportunities and resources like The Umbrella held for them personally and for communities like Concord's.

"I was really struck by how massive is the width and the breadth and the depth of everything The Umbrella Arts Center is doing," said Amy Ray, citing such projects as DIY and virtual at-home art lessons, the Artcubator residency program supporting young emerging artists, among other efforts. Especially in the pandemic, "[Art] is what feeds your soul, keeps you up and positive, and doing what needs to be done to help the world."

Also on the schedule was a changing of the guard for the organization's Board of Directors, with a salute to outgoing members Gregory Maguire, Bryon Deysher and Frank Hill, and welcome to internationally exhibited painter Andy Newman and Casey Carlson, a senior executive with Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Excerpt: The Indigo Girls share messages of support for The Umbrella, and speak about the importance of the arts for community -- especially in times like the pandemic.

Closer To Fine from The Umbrella on Vimeo.