Look up the definition for community engagement, and you'll find lots of fantastic terms––Strategic! Interaction! Ally! But the word that tops them all is "relationship."

Host Jane Trembley chats with Kyle Gray, Santa Fe Opera's Manager of Community Relations and Government Affairs, about how he helps foster meaningful connections between SFO and government agencies, fellow arts organizations, volunteers, and Indigenous communities. The pair also explore SFO's comprehensive DEIA initiatives and why diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are critical elements of the organization’s continued vitality.

"These days, it's all about partnerships," says Kyle, offering a shorthand explanation for the long list of engagement activities his office is involved in, supporting the creation of impactful artistic work. High-level meetings with municipal and federal legislative representatives are an exciting aspect of Kyle's day-to-day, but he finds the grassroots collaborations most rewarding.

"There's the Pueblo Opera Program (POP); there's music educators; there's fine arts coordinators; there's arts commissioners. It doesn't stop with Santa Fe Opera volunteers. I think everyone is an advocate for the Santa Fe Opera."

Weaving on stage artistry with off-stage engagement requires a continuous exchange of ideas and invites feedback. Kyle admits that although critiques aren't always easy to hear, they're necessary for relationship-building. He points to Opera For All Voices (OFAV) as an example of how SFO explores these issues, holds space for multiple viewpoints, and processes the impact of such world premiere productions as Hometown To The World alongside the entire SFO community.

SFO's strategic commitment to community ensures folks see their stories on stage and representation among the audiences, artisans, and administrators. "Opera can get you thinking," Kyle says, while engagement invites communities to shape the future of the world's most compelling art form.

Kyle Gray

Manager of Community Relations and Government AffairsSanta Fe Opera

Destination Santa Fe Opera is a Santa Fe Opera podcast, produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios.

Post-Production Audio: Edwin R. Ruiz

Hosted by: Jane Trembley

Show Notes by: Lisa Widder

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