{"id":2655,"date":"2015-05-06T23:00:25","date_gmt":"2015-05-07T03:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/fieldnotes\/?p=2655"},"modified":"2015-05-06T13:58:42","modified_gmt":"2015-05-06T17:58:42","slug":"what-is-the-place-of-cultural-institutions-within-their-communities-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/fieldnotes\/2015\/05\/what-is-the-place-of-cultural-institutions-within-their-communities-2\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the place of cultural institutions within their communities?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(c) Texas.713 via Flickr<\/p><\/div>\n

NAS produces publications, videos and other management tools to inspire those working in the field to take a fresh look at their work and the challenges they face. Over the last few years we have amassed quite a large catalog of content. We\u2019ve sent NAS staff members into the archives to pick their favorites and share them here. This week NAS’ Program Coordinator, Taylor Craig<\/a> and Josh Miller<\/a>, Executive Assistant share their reactions to one of their favorite videos.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Place Becomes Identity<\/strong>
\nBy Taylor Craig<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Tisa Ho<\/a>, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival<\/a> opens this video by saying, \u201cThe city gives us our name so, our identity is part of our home, where we are.\u201d Ho continues to inspire me when she states that not just the festival office, but the audience and artists in her community hire her. The first time I watched this video and listened to these words, it provided an opportunity to reflect on all the arts and culture organizations I have come into contact with that bear (or share) the name of a place. There are so many. Almost every city has a museum, orchestra, zoo or festival bearing its name. It\u2019s often something I take for granted. It\u2019s just the way things are. I do not question why, when I visit Houston, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston may possess that name. Other than the obvious observation that the organization exists in this specific city, I often do not think about why they may share the name of the place in which they exist. How is this shared identity reflected in the community? Do the people living in these communities take the same view of the organization or institution? Does sharing this piece of identity increase the pressure for these organizations to connect on a much deeper level with the people of their local communities?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\nThe Fluid Argument<\/strong>
\nBy Josh Miller<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
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It\u2019s official. I\u2019m in love with Tisa Ho. I\u2019m speaking rhetorically, of course. For me, she perfectly articulates what the role of arts and cultural institutions in their communities should be. Whenever listening to a conversation or debate about the purpose of arts and cultural institutions, it\u2019s been my experience that most or all of the arguments are quite concrete: \u201cCultural institutions must do this\u201d or \u201cThe purpose of the arts is to serve etc.\u201d Ho\u2019s argument is much more fluid and malleable. For Ho, as long as there is a strong relationship between arts and culture institutions and the people, place and purpose they serve, it is inherently for and by the community. Subsequently, their relevancy will never come into question.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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