Come to find out, an event is a festival and a festival is a town. Empirical evidence suggested as much. Anecdotal phrasing eventually filled in to support. Such is my* journey of understanding, anyway. Lived experience has changed multiple times during 2020. It’s been one for the books for months already. Understanding things differently comes bundled along for the ride.

We’re all missing in-person events and the relationships they concentrate. Events are made up of people. We share in their existence.

Putting on an event combines a presentation/performance with attendees/co-creators. The medium of exchange is the space/venue. Facilitating flow within this field is a creative offering on semi-hiatus/rolling-pause, as people are more distant and spaces are less shared. In the same way bands are scheduled, screens are deployed and porta-potties are arranged, an event accounts for festival-like resources to be available.

A festival, in turn, is often born with a magnitude of complexity beyond the individual. In the same way a town’s places to live, work, create, learn and play can be planned, a festival accounts for town-like resources to be available.

All to say, the mapped network being rambled on about here, within the free space of a day home from the office, cycles intent and attention back and forth between people and towns, through events and festivals. It’s an ecosystem of exchange.

Plants, water, soil and others are part of this same admixture. These days, however, one can’t help but be mindful of our place in places together. Supporting each other is vital. As is being reminded that we’re all the same and should be treated with equal standing.

While we’re still home more than away, let’s give thanks to what we have and what brings us together. Things people create are an extension of themselves. Supporting people’s creations supports the people creating things to share. Supporting your town, community, neighborhood, festival, or event supports the same.

Now’s a great time to drop a note of thanks or a gift of whatever you have to artists, dancers, filmmakers, makers, musicians, painters, performers, sculptors, writers, or whoever else is working alongside the same. Likewise with arts, education, culinary, cultural and social organizations/structures. In a time of virtual attendance and presentation, we can express our appreciation for what was, what is and what will be in our space sharing future.

*Derek Frey Williams, Downtown Festivalogist, Canaltown. Visit interweb portals @canaltown552.com for more local landscape stories.