At the beginning of the new school year in the MBA program I direct, I posted my own mini manifesto about the goals of our degree program, and the qualities we hope to foster in our students. The gist of it was this: I believe that our degree program is in the business of finding […]
I think the alien gives it away
I’m sure it’s disrespectful and heretical in a thousand different ways, but I’m still rather fond of this counterfeit art competition with the following rules: You will take any famous painting or artwork (any period is fine) and alter it in such a way that it is obviously a forgery, as in the themepost. As […]
It’s the invisible structures that get you
Last month, I was invited to speak to a group of science outreach folks on my campus about cultural facility development, and the many sandtraps and surprises we’ve discovered in the arts. There is a ”new constellation” of science facilities currently opening or under construction at UW-Madison, and this group is working to understand how […]
Strategy as storytelling
A web discussion at SocialEdge, a program of Skoll Foundation, is exploring the idea of strategic storytelling — or the promise and challenge of creating more compelling narratives about our work. While all agree that narrative is a powerful force in conveying purpose and meaning, it also has a controlling side that should lead us […]
We manage what we measure, so let’s measure what we value
Since metrics are the mantra of public education these days (No Statistic Left Behind), it’s been difficult for arts education to maintain a stake in the larger conversation. Without hard numbers about the current state of arts education, neither policy-makers nor parents could argue in anything but vague and emotional terms. Thanks to an astounding […]
What is scientific literacy? An essay contest helps decide
In the quest to define and advance ”scientific literacy,” SEED Magazine has hosted an essay contest for the best answer to the question: ”What does it mean to be scientifically literate in the 21st Century?” Both the first and second place winners are worth a read. Both have relevance for leaders in the arts. In […]
A Friday diversion
This week’s weblog conversations about intelligence, authenticity, and evolution found a fitting closure in the YouTube video featured on ArtsJournal.com yesterday. The overview of Theo Jansen and his extraordinary work with kinetic sculpture and hand-crafted biology is just the thing to remind us about the energy, insight, and mind-transformation our colleagues in the arts can […]
Evolution vs. adaptation vs. ultimate good
I’m slogging my way through the fascinating economics book Culture and Prosperity by John Kay (known as The Truth About Markets in its original UK release). Kay offers a thoughtful and detailed overview of how markets work, or don’t work, and how economists have succeeded and failed at describing that functionality over time. He’s also […]
Faking authenticity
I know that a weblog post on a four-month-old article may be equivalent to a baker’s “day-old bread” bin. But if the bread still feeds a hunger, I figure it’s worth the offense. And Bill Breen’s article on authenticity from Fast Company has lots of caloric value for arts and cultural managers, even if it […]
At least one indicator changing in our favor
David Brooks has a great Op-Ed in the New York Times (requires subscription, probably) on the diminishing influence of I.Q. as a measure of intelligence. While the conception of the intelligence quotient had some basis in observable fact, Brooks suggests that it was always a bit inelegant and opaque in describing such a complex characteristic. […]
