I know I’ve already posted a couple of times on TCG’s Arts (R)Evolution Convening, but I’ve got to circle back and mention one more takeaway for me from the event. The speaker at the closing plenary was Ethan Zuckerman, author of the book Rewired and an expert in all things technological (at least from my perspective), particularly as they relate to the basics of citizen participation in a democracy. He provided a fascinating analysis of how access to political leaders and the political process has changed over the course of U.S. history. He commented that, unlike at the birth of our country, it is now very easy for people to “speak.” (If it weren’t for blogs, I’d likely be doing something very different with my life today.) But the ease of speaking creates a cacophony that makes being “heard” far more difficult than ever before. And if it’s hard to be heard, having an impact is even more unlikely.
I’m a bit of a social history geek, especially when it comes to identifying large, long-term trends. But what convinced me that Mr. Zukerman’s speech should find its way into Engaging Matters was his final exhortation to the conference attendees. He holds that there are three principal elements that those supporting a functioning democracy must foster:
- Help people speak
- Help people be heard
- Help people have an impact
While intended as advice on securing good government and delivered as admonishment about arts marketing, these three elements also have much to offer effective community engagement, at least with communities whose voices have been proscribed by society or unheard by the arts establishment. In developing relationships with new communities, it’s important to ensure that they are encouraged to voice their interests and concerns. Often their previous experience with the arts inhibits their voice. It’s then even more critical that we listen and learn from what they say. We must recognize that we may need help understanding what they are trying to tell us because we speak and think with a somewhat rarefied vocabulary. There may be need for translators. But most of all, it’s vital that we act on what we hear. Asking for “input” without ever responding to the result will quickly kill any possibility of trust. That does not mean that we implement every idea suggested or respond to every issue raised. We must, though, be willing to alter some of what we do based on what we learn in developing these relationships. If we’re not willing to do so, our efforts will be seen as hypocritical.
Engage!
Doug