COVID-19 has again sidelined the Pacific Region International Summer Music Association’s (PRISMA) endeavours to bring students to Powell River.
At the May 4 City of Powell River committee of the whole meeting, PRISMA artistic director Arthur Arnold said the organizers believe, with the current travel restrictions, that students cannot be invited to Powell River.
“We had planned for and accepted 21 students with the goal to teach them here, but we will teach them through Zoom and other technologies,” said Arnold. “We just feel there is a risk of bringing in 21 students to our isolated community now that there is a third wave.
“I did not expect it and I feel very frustrated about it but this is the only right thing we can do.”
Arnold said this doesn’t mean there will not be a PRISMA. He said there will be some guest artists, there will be some pop-up concerts and there will be a new season of PRISMA on the Couch again.
Operations and engagement director Misty Oakes said it’s important to note it was not an easy decision to come to but it’s not a cancellation and PRISMA did not want to be an organization that finds loopholes.
“We want to do the right thing but we also want to continue to bring the arts to the community,” said Oakes. “We just think it is so important to translate all of the emotions that we’re constantly going through. People need to be enlightened and transformed through music. That is our core belief.”
Arnold said he has been playing cello regularly at the vaccination clinic at Powell River Recreation Complex and there is so much positivity.
“People stay longer and they yearn for music,” said Arnold. “It’s wonderful to be able to do that and to bring a little bit of music into our community.”
He said he has also been doing PRISMA for kids and has been in schools and a lot of classes outside. He said he wanted to share with councillors some comments from Kelly Creek Community School kindergarten students. He said they have a classroom in the forest and were sitting on tree stumps, as was he, when he played music for them.
“They said things like it was magical, just like he was making magic in the trees,” said Arnold. “Another comment was the music was like sunshine and then it was sad.”
Other comments included: “I was the most calm I have ever been.”
“I was a bit sad and happy at the same time.”
“When I closed my eyes, all I could feel was music.”
Arnold said there were students sitting with their eyes closed and he asked them why and they said they want to be with the music.
“Little kids – it’s amazing,” said Arnold.
He said the teacher wrote she’s always amazed how young children can feel and respond to music.
“This is a little bit of a testimonial how important the music is for all of us,” said Arnold.
He also said PRISMA has a three-year contract with the city, with a clause that allows extension of that support for an additional two years. He asked councillors to look into that. He said PRISMA would like to extend for the additional two years.
Mayor Dave Formosa said he was sure that the chief financial officer could bring councillors a report.
“We have to keep it (PRISMA) alive, otherwise we might lose it,” said Formosa.
Councillors gave unanimous consent for a report.
