Hello

If you are reading this, you probably care passionately about the South Bend arts community. A community that is beautiful, passionate, accepting, energetic, full of potential, and also fragmented. This community shares much in common, but has been chronically under-resourced and disorganized due to lack of funding, lack of leadership, burn-out, and frustration. It is no wonder that as a generally fragmented group, we lack the ability to communicate in honest and healthy ways, which is a significant concern of mine and which I will come back to shortly.

 

As a concept, LangLab came into existence in order to provide the arts in South Bend a space and potential to incubate, grow and thrive. In reality, we have struggled to keep our doors open for the better part of our 16 years. If you talk to any other arts-related business owner or leader in the community, they will likely tell you the same: It is very difficult to make something like this work in South Bend.

 

Leaders in our community do what they do despite constant money concerns, feelings of imminent failure, buried under piles of paperwork and forms and requirements and licenses just to keep the doors open, and somehow also to do what they initially set out to do: knit the pieces of our community together. We must constantly discern people who have true potential for growth from bad actors who intentionally commit acts that lead to discomfort and/or division. Those who build vs. those who destroy. I tend to look at everyone as someone who has potential, and invite them to build something within our ecosystem, unless they prove otherwise. It is one of the primary reasons LangLab is still open today.

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My primary concern at this critical juncture in our community's growth is the lack of communication and dialogue we are comfortable having with each other. This was made apparent recently through a series of posts citing our systematic lack of support for artists and other questionable behavior. I can say with 100% confidence that we have supported the arts community vehemently and that I have never received a specific complaint about my staff, either formally or informally. Not ever. Full stop.

 

We have received many complaints about individual patrons which have been dealt with swiftly, through a process that ensures fair and objective outcomes through the collection of facts and opportunity for dialogue. We sit with people, we have conversations, we document evidence and then make decisions that we believe are in the best interests of the community. We do not sweep these issues under the rug by any means, but we also do not shame people in a public forum. We do not engage in social media disparagement or harassment. We do not operate in the realm of rumor or third-hand information. These do not serve us. They keep us fragmented. They do not lead to resolution. They are divisive. 

 

To be clear, detailed, specific and factual concerns are taken very seriously. I will always prioritize a request to sit down and discuss any such concerns in person.  Anything short of this is a disservice to our community.

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I encourage anyone who has read this far to consider the importance of improving the skill of face-to-face dialogue if we want to continue to grow. It is a critical component of our shared future. I so very greatly appreciate the other leaders in the arts community for being collaborative, open, honest, willing to support each other and talk whenever needed. It is proof that we are stronger together.

 

It is a great feeling to know that we have all of the components of being a successful and thriving community.  We are on the verge of greatness, each and every one of us. Keep up the good work and know that my door is always open.