Alsop:: This is a good example of how we can expand and maximize the experience. Now, the symphonies and musicians in America have realized they can't deny access on every level. The unions are now becoming a little more willing to budge, so that we're now able to do downloads, we're able to stream live, we're able to be on iTunes. But, I think it's an enhancement.
[She turns toward Lewis.] So perhaps you are able to film the production, and put up excerpts, and invite a discussion about it.
I don't know how it is with visual artists. Are they very hesitant to give permission?
Bolger: : : [She says copyrights in the visual arts remain in effect for 75 years, so it's difficult and expensive to digitally distribute images by artists who died in the 20th century.]
But, living artists seem to be so eager. There are so many artists in Baltimore today who actually fund their own galleries where they show work by artists from this city and other cities. They pay for the space, they have their own openings, they do their own printing. They're very open to sharing what they have and putting their own work up on the Internet.
Alsop:: That's the new mentality. It's an entrepreneurial approach to being an artist. It's the same with music, not so much with the symphony, but for individual musicians. You can make your own record now and market it on the Internet. The opportunities now are so much greater for self-expression, and we should maximize that with the kids.
Lewis:: It would be wonderful if we could share more of these ideas between ourselves. It would really be kind of exciting.
Alsop: : I'd love to come out of this with our own decision to meet regularly, and have lunch together and talk about the issues, and look toward the future where we could potentially do some kind of collaborative programming.
[Bolger mentions one particular collaboration already in the works at the BMA.]
Bolger: : We lent a group of Picasso drawings for The Circus Family to a museum in Sweden - they have the painting - and they did a huge Picasso show. So we said, 'We'll lend them to you, but you're going to have to lend us the painting."
Now, we're going to have an exhibition on the circus in the spring, and it's very exciting.
Alsop: : See, this is good, and this is why we need to talk, because part of our next season is going to be devoted to the circus. Even though we're a season behind the curve, what we should do is use this as an opportunity to promote both.
