A Community That Values Its Own Commitment to the Local Arts! Susan Appe, PhD What would make where I live a better place? I want Broome Country, upstate New York to value its own commitment to the local arts. The evidence is out there. I first started noticing this with my students. While certainly not a representative, scientific sample, it surprised me. And the students in my class are not the only ones attending and supporting local arts. Case in point—on March 13, 2013 the Broome County Arts Council’s (BCAC) United Cultural Fund (UCF) awarded $228,000 to organizations and individuals working in the arts in Broome County. We know that at the local level, local arts agencies are a primary channel of arts funding (Toepler & Wyszomirski, 2012), therefore, the BCAC’s model is a familiar one for those of us engaged in local arts. However, still, the UCF is one of only seven such programs in all of New York state, one of only two in upstate, and the only one in south central New York. References Toepler, S. & Wyszomirski, M.
A City, and an Artist, Finding Their Authentic Creative Voice Christy Bors It was during my third year as an undergraduate art student (Go Slugs!) that I met Frank, my abstract painting professor. I’d never been more frustrated with a syllabus or a teacher in my whole life as I’d been with Frank. The careful, thoughtful, planner inside me cringed every day in that studio. The bi-product: A six-foot tall canvas spread wildly with a cake frosting texture of Alizarin Crimson and Flake White oils. I hated it. “Don’t touch it anymore—it’s finished.” And so, I let it be praised. It took me months of scowling at its presence before I realized that I hated that painting (which forever remained titled “Untitled”) so much because it didn’t resonate with me. That hollowed sense of accomplishment is an emotion that can strike creative people of all genres. Working now out of my hometown as an arts administrator, I recognize this fight in my own creative community. I see Napa’s arts district as a burgeoning embryo.
Bringing Backstage Onstage with Social Media Kelly Page Imagine, if we saw social media more like an artist’s studio or cafe and less like a marketing channel? While walking through the exhibit, Building: Inside Studio Gang Architects at the Arts Institute Chicago last November, I felt like I was seeing into the private design space of the architect. The exhibit was an installation of an architect’s studio with concept drawings, full-scale project mockups, material samples, and photographs of completed work that now form part of the Chicago city skyline. The work of the artist backstage, however, many don’t experience. Imagine for a moment, however, if we did? Social media use in arts management I spend a lot of my time exploring how arts organizations use social media and what I often read is content dominated by the voice of the marketer, marketing at me—a mix of call-to-action posts such and social media promotions focused on driving traffic and ticket sales. My advice is simple—Do not use social media for marketing.
New to the Community: A Love Story Set to Beethoven Jenifer Thomas I am a fairly recent transplant to a city with a vibrant arts scene chock-full of healthy arts organizations, beautiful parks and architecture, wonderful public art, a squadron of young professionals getting involved, and our very own culinary smorgasbord: a signature chili (you either love it or you hate it), mouthwatering ice cream, and questionable breakfast meat. Where is this cultural mecca, you might ask? Cincinnati’s varied offerings come with an equally diverse community of people. The Cincinnati ethos is evolving, and many organizations are doing great things to get engagement that is more reflective of our community and encourages we locals to put our personal stamp on the Queen City. Recently, after two years of living in Cincinnati, I fell in love. It happened in the most unlikely of places: the concert hall. Think it sounds cool? Not only did the community come out in droves to the events surrounding One City, One Symphony, but live performances sold out.
The Space Race Chase Maggiano There are a few things I have come to believe are true: Justin Bieber’s monkey is more famous than I will ever be; there are more self-proclaimed artists in the world than at any time in history; and the arts are the next big export—both here in Washington, D.C., and abroad. All three of these truths lead to a problem we have in our cultural communities. We need more space. With YouTube, an iPad, and Kickstarter, anyone can create and distribute art while sitting in front of the computer in their underwear (no…not THAT kind of art). Some artists can even launch careers from the keyboard. I have learned that many people in my community feel the same way. While finding performance space is often the key stumbling block, locating adequate rehearsal (or studio) space is an equally important challenge. One way to overcome this problem is to throw money at it. For those of us who don’t have $100 million lying around, there are other great ideas.
8 Tips to Survive a Cultural Planning Process Sarah Lawson You’ve probably never visited an art gallery or a classical music concert in Charlottesville, VA. Though the area is known for its views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, historical landmarks, and local food culture, many people don’t consider it an arts destination. At Piedmont Council for the Arts (PCA), we see this every day. Residents might know everything that’s happening in one area of arts interest, but nothing broader. Very few people ever see the full breadth of the Charlottesville area arts community. However, data from Americans for the Arts’ Arts & Economic Prosperity IV study in the Greater Charlottesville area showed that our arts and culture industry generates $114.4 million in annual economic activity, supporting 1,921 full-time equivalent jobs and generating $9.2 million in government revenue. As the Charlottesville community continues to grow this arts and culture sector, we see a greater need to address this issue of coordinated cultural tourism. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Collaboration is Key in D.C. Sunny Widmann I moved to Washington D.C. four years ago, after living in a village of 600, and I absolutely love where I live. I enjoy trying new restaurants, seeing world premiere plays, watching drummers and acro-yogis perform in my favorite public park and the proximity of it all. Although I cannot deny the benefits of living near national cultural centers such as the Smithsonian museums, I find that most of my moments of bliss have come from time spent away from the national mall, in the city’s smaller pockets of cultural activity. Therefore, I argue that moving resources and attention from the center to other parts of the city would bring D.C. to the next level. During a panel discussion I moderated at the Corcoran last year, I heard from D.C. arts champions on the challenges of working in a city where a small but thriving local arts scene is often overshadowed by the national centers. The prevailing value proposition in our field today centers around creative placemaking.
The Value of an Afternoon with an Artist Ronda Billerbeck On a chilly January afternoon, I sat in a high school library, along with 40 students, listening to Suzanne Vega talk about music. Listening to any artist speak about their work is interesting at the very least and more often than not quite compelling. Suzanne Vega is widely regarded as one of the great songwriters of her generation. Suzanne performed as part of the Kent Arts Commission’s Spotlight Series. When we have communities that are engaged with art, where art is an integral part of life and a defining characteristic of place, our communities are better for it. It was thrilling to watch Suzanne Vega—a Grammy Award winner, an iconic voice in American song—standing in a humble school library speaking to students with an obvious conviction that they each have the potential to achieve as much as she has. She spoke about her creative process and gave them tips on finding their artistic voices. These are the times I truly love my job. Lorraine was mesmerizing.
A New “Garden State” Kacy O’Brien “The Garden State” is a schema that conjures certain images: the beautiful Jersey shore, Atlantic City, traffic on I-95, traffic on the Parkway, traffic on I-287…the Jersey Devil. Wouldn’t it be great if Jersey could rejuvenate “The Garden State” motto to conjure a thriving ecology where industry, culture, and community exist in support of each other, like vines twining to reach the sun? There are three things happening in New Jersey that excite me. All have to do with cross-sector partnerships, creativity, and innovation; all are bettering New Jersey’s communities and positioning our state to take a step forward in redefining itself. ONE: The Gandhi Garden Nine months ago, East Hanover Street in Trenton was equal parts boarded up buildings, vacant lots, low-income housing…and artist office/work space. We’ve all heard that story; many of us, including me, are living it. Six months ago, TDA initiated renovations of the decaying artist workspace on East Hanover Street.
Evaluating Our Arts Footprint in a Growing City Sarah Rucker What city carries the nickname “the Violet Crown?” What about “Live Music Capital of the World?” Now it may be ringing bells…or strumming guitars, I should say. My parents moved here in 1969 and my brother was born in Austin in the summer of ‘71. Austin has experienced a diverse history of politics, social change, and a lot of music. With hundreds of thousands of visitors coming each year for events such as Austin City Limits Music Festival and SXSW Music, Film & Interactive Festival, we need to find the balance of celebrating the history, promoting the local talent and embracing the changes this city has undergone. Incorporating the past, present, and future into one’s work is often key in the arts and community life. For instance, at Texas Folklife our mission is to preserve, promote, and present the cultures of Texas. So with that, here are three things that can be done to make Austin an even better place as it grows and evolves: Change is inevitable but devolution is not.
From the Big Lick to Big Ideas: Capitalizing on Culture in Roanoke Kate Preston Keeney Like many of my high school classmates, I never had plans to stay in my hometown of Roanoke, located in southwestern Virginia. Among other reasons, it seemed to lack that something special in terms of arts and culture. The local theater had reduced its performance season; a much-anticipated visual art museum was struggling to stay open; and the independent bookstore closed to become just another bar. And so, as is common, I left my hometown in pursuit of graduate school and a job in a metropolitan area. But now, I’m starting to look back. Roanoke and its surrounding areas have begun to capitalize on its rich cultural history. Roanoke has taken steps to put itself on the list of desirable places to live and has done so by elevating its distinct heritage. In August 2011, Roanoke City Council adopted an Arts and Cultural Plan that was the product of focus groups and community meetings. Like all cities, Roanoke is distinct in terms of its region, communities, and people.
ARTSblog » April 2013 Blog Salon Sarah Rucker What city carries the nickname “the Violet Crown?” What about “Live Music Capital of the World?” Now it may be ringing bells…or strumming guitars, I should say. Austin, TX, is my home and has been for 12 years. It’s true that I’m one of the University of Texas alums who remained after graduating, despised by those born or have lived here for over 25 years and have seen the population double. My parents moved here in 1969 and my brother was born in Austin in the summer of ‘71. Austin has experienced a diverse history of politics, social change, and a lot of music. With hundreds of thousands of visitors coming each year for events such as Austin City Limits Music Festival and SXSW Music, Film & Interactive Festival, we need to find the balance of celebrating the history, promoting the local talent and embracing the changes this city has undergone. Incorporating the past, present, and future into one’s work is often key in the arts and community life.