More layoffs, this time at the Walker; Jazz Central Studios to host ‘Streamfest’ – MinnPost

On one hand, Phase III of Minnesotas Stay Safe Plan, which took effect June 10, is good for arts organizations. They are now officially allowed to reopen, with limited capacity and certain other restrictions and expectations.

On the other, were seeing a lot of layoffs, some tied to the fact that the PPP (Payroll Protection Program) funds organizations received as part of the CARE Act are running out.

At the Minneapolis Institute of Art, PPP funds paid staff through Friday, June 19. Seventeen employees took a voluntary separation package effective Saturday, June 20, and 22 were laid off on Monday. Mia plans to reopen July 16.

Last week, the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) announced plans to reopen Split Rock Lighthouse and Jeffers Petroglyphs on July 15. It is bringing 64 employees back to work, extending furloughs for 139 and laying off 176, primarily staff who work at MNHS historic sites and museums that remain closed. MNHS has 26 historic sites and museums around Minnesota. The History Center, Mill City Museum, Hill House, Ramsey House, Historic Fort Snelling and others remain closed.

The Walker Art Center is the latest on this mixed-bag list, and its safe but also sad to say it probably wont be the last. With its reopening set for July 16, it announced Tuesday that it will lay off 33 people as of July 1. All are whats called visitor-facing staff. Fifteen work in the Walker Shop and Visitor Services, and 18 are part-time gallery assistants. A PPP loan will pay them through June 30.

Experts are predicting another huge wave of layoffs as PPP money runs out nationwide. Business Insider columnist Dan Alpert explains: [The] regulations surrounding the PPP essentially forced employers to initially rush out 75% of the loan amounts they received to put their entire pre-crisis body of workers back on payroll for eight weeks, in order to qualify for loan forgiveness. While that requirement was relaxed two weeks ago the vast majority of that cash will be out the door to employees by the end of June as originally required.

Starting July 16, the Walker will offer reduced hours, programs and operations. The organization is projecting a $5.7 million drop in revenue, or 26 percent of last years operating budget. Along with laying off staff, it will freeze all salaries, reduce its 403b pension contribution by 1 percent. Executive Director Mary Ceruti will take a 20 percent pay cut and other senior leadership will take 10 percent pay cuts.

When the Twin Cities Jazz Festival had to cancel its Winter Jazz Festival, originally set for March 29, Executive Director Steve Heckler and his board rescheduled it for Oct. 18, which seemed reasonable at the time. Because surely COVID wouldnt still be a problem in seven months?

Then it had to cancel the 22nd Annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival, the big one, scheduled for June 25-27. This weekend. Tonight, tomorrow and Saturday, in case anyone wants to take a moment and think about how glorious it would have been to hear Jazz Master Kenny Barron play on the Mears Park stage. At the time, Heckler called the festival postponed and said, Wed also like to have some kind of live show in September, if its allowed and if its safe.

Nix to both. TCJF wont present any live shows until 2021.

But you can still have a jazzy weekend. Jazz Central Studios began in 2010 as a rehearsal and recording space for Twin Cities jazz musicians and evolved into a performance space, much needed especially after the Artists Quarter in St. Paul closed at the end of 2013. Starting Friday, June 26, and continuing through Sunday, it will host an online festival of live jazz, available for streaming on its Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Streamfest will feature 30 hours of music, with a new performance every hour on the hour. Musicians will include Chris Bates, Sarah M. Greer, Steve Kenny, Graydon Peterson, Solomon Parham, Dean Granros, Charlie Lincoln, Will Kjeer, Ted Godbout, Nathan Hanson, Jordan Anderson, L.A. Buckner and many more. Performances will take place at Jazz Central, with protocols in place to keep the musicians safe.

Calendar (scroll down)

Facebook page

Fridays YouTube channel link

Saturdays YouTube channel link

Sundays YouTube channel link

Donations will support the Musicians Relief Fund and the Twin Cities Black American Musicians Project.

Tonight (Thursday, June 25) at 7 p.m.: Jazz Fest Live presents Debbie Duncan. Though the Twin Cities Jazz Fest wont present any live shows until 2021, its weekly Jazz Fest Live streams will continue. Sign up here to save your spot for the Twin Cities First Lady of Song. Free, but donations are appreciated.

Friday, June 26, at noon CST: #KnightLive: Walking the talk: Social impact of the arts. The Knight Foundation is holding several series of online conversations about the future of our communities and democracy. Watch and listen in as Knights Director for Arts Priya Sircar talks with poet, writer and lyricist Aja Monet and Americans for the Arts VP Clay Lord about how the arts and individual artists are shaping society and addressing systemic issues. The webinar is free. Register here.

Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28: Live Streaming at the Vanguard: Joe Martin Quartet featuring Mark Turner, Kevin Hays and Nasheet Waits. Weve seen two of the Village Vanguards streaming shows, the first with the Billy Hart Quartet (Ethan Iverson on piano) and the second with Vijay Iyer. Were going back for more. Not all live streams are equal, but so far these have been exceptional: crisp and clear, latency-free (as long as you dont listen through Bluetooth), with close-up but nonintrusive camera work. Its weird not hearing applause, but wonderful knowing that what youre hearing (and seeing) is live and in the moment. Its weird not being in an actual crowd, but wonderful to be in the worlds most famous jazz club. If you can Airplay/cast/mirror to a smart TV with decent sound, you might forget youre streaming. Saturday at 6 p.m. CST, Sunday at 1 p.m. CST. Tickets are $7. Coming up July 4 and 5: Joe Lovano Trio Fascination.

Starts Sunday, June 28, at 11 a.m. from MSP Film Society: Free 24-hour streaming of Women in Blue. Director Dierdre Fishels film about the inner workings of the Minneapolis Police Department, especially the lives of women officers, starts out as if its going to be a profile of former Police Chief Jane Harteau, then takes a sudden turn after Justine Damond is killed by a police officer. But its still a fascinating look at the department and what its like to work there if youre a woman. On Monday, June 29, at 7 p.m., Craig Laurence Rice will moderate a conversation with the director, Minneapolis City Council member Alondra Cano, civil rights attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, and former Minneapolis City Council member Ralph Remington. FMI and tickets/registration.

National Theatre Live

Gwendoline Christie, left, in Midsummer Nights Dream.

Now on PBS Voices: Prideland. PBS Voices is a new documentary-focused YouTube channel by PBS Digital Studios. Prideland isnt Queer Eye (nothing is) but its awfully good. In this six-episode short-form series, host and actor Dylln Burnside (Pose) travels across the American South, meeting people, hearing their stories, and bringing viewers into the Souths various LGBTQ+ communities to show how LGBTQ+ Americans are finding ways to live authentically. Also on PBS (check local listings), the PBS website and the PBS Video App. Heres the trailer.

Now on the Martha Graham Dance Companys YouTube channel: Martha Matinees: Immediate Tragedy. Martha Graham Dance Company would have been at Northrop on Saturday, April 4. Inspired by Grahams lost solo from 1937, Immediate Tragedy is a new digital creation by 22 artists collaborating from locations across the U.S. and Europe.

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More layoffs, this time at the Walker; Jazz Central Studios to host 'Streamfest' - MinnPost