Doug Borwick on vibrant arts and communities
In Communities Take Care of Things I raised the issue of mattering. It is our marginalization from the broad public that is a principal hindrance to sustainability. If we matter to our communities, we will be supported by them in all ways that are important, including financially. How do we reach this nirvana-like state of support? (Or more realistically, how do we simply get on the community's radar screen in a positive way?) Communities must … [Read more...]
In Shifting the Center I began a consideration of transforming the way we think about the relationship between art and community. Many of us in the arts see the world from the perspective of our arts discipline, and that discipline–along with the work that is its expression–is a value unto itself. Our commitment to art can be nearly all-consuming. But this is a hindrance to relationship building. It gets in the way of engagement. We cannot … [Read more...]
I'll admit it. I have a bad attitude about the word "outreach" in the context of the arts. Whether that attitude is rooted in the way the word has been used or in some quality inherent in it is not clear to me. I have difficulty with what often seem to be paternalistic activities undertaken in its name. If you think about the meaning of the word, at least it appears this way to me, outreach puts the reacher at the center and the other outside, … [Read more...]
I'm on a roll talking about types of engagement (New Thought on Audience and Community Engagement). So I thought I'd take a crack at one I've not addressed before: Civic Engagement. Early last month I spoke with a friend and colleague–Barbara Schaffer Bacon–who, along with Pam Korza (another buddy), is co-director of Americans for the Arts' Animating Democracy program. One purpose of the conversation was to see how we might best coordinate … [Read more...]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6ZBlYdyoeQ One of the joys of all the traveling and speaking I am undertaking is the opportunity to find out about cool examples of engagement work going on around the country. I am going to Austin for the Texas Commission on the Arts & Texans for the Arts conference, Strategies for Success. As part of the preparation, I asked the organizers to send me examples of interesting projects. The subject of this … [Read more...]
Let me make it clear up front that I am talking about a concept in progress here. That caveat out of the way . . . . As I have said before here, there is (or should be) a differentiation between audience engagement and community engagement. I have written about this on numerous occasions, but as I speak about it more and more I find that my understanding of the differences is emerging. Here are the current "top of my mind" thoughts. The … [Read more...]
My basic beliefs about the arts and community engagement are fairly well-known to anyone who reads this blog or who has read my book. 1) Community engagement is vital to a healthy future for the arts; 2) substantive community engagement is relatively rare in the established arts world; and 3) since there are no extra resources to add "new" stuff to the list of what we do, mainstreaming engagement–making engagement the core perspective in all … [Read more...]
Communities take care of things . . . that matter to them. That sentence, without the ellipses, made it into my notes from some conference in the last year or so. I have no idea what conference. That's one of the big problems with a life lived in conference sessions and without adequate notes. The statement has been staring at me, gnawing at my mind from the series of legal pad pages that serve as home to blog post ideas, for months. … [Read more...]
I have been waiting for some time to write about this fascinating blog post by Greg McKeown from the Harvard Business Review: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. It is in the tradition of Jim Collins' Good to Great. Indeed, Mr. McKeown's graphic looks a lot like Collins' Hedgehog Concept graphic. He suggests we identify our core passion, that at which we are best (talent)–not merely good but best, and that which is most needed in the world. What … [Read more...]
Few people are really spending time investigating professional reading at this pre-New Year moment. However, for anyone who stumbles across this, here's a Holiday gift. In November I had the opportunity to hear Nina Simon's keynote address at the NAMP conference in Charlotte. While several others (notably Ian David Moss in Createquity) have already pointed to her presentation about the transformation of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and … [Read more...]
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Recent Comments
richard kooyman on The Arts Benefit from Engagement
Doug, I think you might have it exactly backwards. A good case could be made that the respect...Stephen Pritchard on More on Artists and Engagement
Good debate. Quick response. Are Lion King sequels, popularist propaganda and American Idol REALLY what 'people' WANT? Is art in any...Larry Murray on More on Artists and Engagement
One size does not fit all. There is no one art that fits both Joe and Jody Sixpack and Mr....richard Kooyman on More on Artists and Engagement
Doug, Thank you for allowing me to have a conversation with you regarding artists, their role in society, and the...Sally Whitwell on I Blame Beethoven
I like your "hyperbolic" heading! But yes, the word 'blame' carries with it the potential for much controversy, so...Craig Fleming on Shifting the Center
A Venn diagram is crucial.Doug Borwick on I Blame Beethoven
These are terribly complex issues, admittedly not well suited to this form of discourse. I've got two more posts coming...richard kooyman on I Blame Beethoven
In the 1950's governmental officials and policy makers were concerned about the United State's standing in the world and our...John "Moe" Moore on Equity/Diversity/Change
Haven't heard back from you in a few weeks Carl. Are you around? JMrichard kooyman on Engagement Vocabulary
Doug, My comments were in no way meant as a personal attack. If they read as such I apologize. As...