Time to appreciate our arts and culture

Peggy Been | McCook Community Foundation Fund

My husband, Kent, and I are for all practical purposes homebodies.

Yes, I venture out for work, and we belong to various community and church groups that add fun and enriching activities to our lives.

But for the most part, we are pretty happy and comfortable at our small rural home. Heaven knows, there is always something to do whether it is tending to our animals, mowing our yard, working in our garden or doing one of the many fix-it projects. So we really don’t think of ourselves as being socially out and about town much.

Then COVID-19 hit.

I don’t want to diminish in any way the seriousness of the coronavirus for those who became ill, those who were isolated from their families and friends, and especially those who lost loved ones.

However, when things started to shut down and events were canceled, we quickly realized we actually had a rather active social life, which was generated by the rich variety of cultural arts both across Nebraska and in our community.

Suddenly, the mother-daughter-granddaughter excursion to Omaha to see The Lion King - canceled. The five Broadway musicals planned at the Lied Center in Lincoln - gone. And all the local events on our calendar - postponed.

With this newfound time on my hands, I started thinking about all of the cultural events we attend each year in McCook and was surprised by the sheer number of opportunities along with the diversity we have nearby to enjoy.

A quick list of what we missed last year included McCook Community Concerts, Sehnert’s Live at the Bieroc series, the Buffalo Commons Storytelling and Music Festival, Southwest Nebraska Community Theater Association’s productions, MNB’s Hot Summer Nights concerts, Prairie Roots Festival, Arts Across Nebraska, McCook Heritage Days’ productions in the park, activities at the Red Willow County Fair, Simply String’s fall concert at the Fox Theater, and the Christmas dance recital of The Nutcracker. I know I am missing some, but this demonstrates how much is actually happening on a regular basis in our community.

As empty-nesters, our list no longer includes the many school performances that may be on your list from band concerts to spring musical programs. And we haven’t even touched on the arts presented through McCook Community College.

The list makes me wonder how we fit it all in our schedule and still got the chores done! I cannot imagine that many towns our size can boast of having such a wealth of arts to enjoy, highlighting all the amazing talent in our community.

As we move out of the COVID-imposed hibernation and into a new and fresh springtime, this is the perfect time to consider everything our community has to offer.

The arts help us know who we are and give us an opportunity to share that with others. So, I ask you to consider making our local arts scene a part of the fabric of your life.

Bring your children and your parents and your grandparents to these events as they resume. Invite your friends and neighbors to join you in the front row of a local performance. Come share laughter with (and at!) your neighbors up on stage. Share some tears of joy and pride as you marvel at the talents of those who live here and the performers who visit us.

After all, if we want these performances to resume and to continue, we need to do our part and simply show up. It is time to once again enjoy the experience of live entertainment. The cost is minimal when compared to the sense of community created and the memories shared. And most importantly, it all happens right here in your hometown.

Like me, I hope you are tired of being a homebody. And I will look for you at one or more of these wonderful community arts performances, all of which help make McCook an even better place to call home.

— Peggy Been is the secretary for the McCook Community Foundation Fund and has a passion for all things McCook and Southwest Nebraska.