In today's podcast, C. Brian Williams talks about the art of stepping—defining and historicizing the art form and discussing its deep connection to African-American fraternities and sororities. (He learned to step when he was accepted into a fraternity at Howard University). He talks about the creation of Step Afrika! which began in 1994 as a dance festival in South Africa and … [Read more...] about Meet Step Artist and Founder of Step Afrika!–C. Brian Williams
Making Space for Indigenous Practices in Government Data about the Arts
One of my former colleagues used to complain that arts funders and administrators are “data paupers.” This must have been more than a decade ago. Even at the time, I questioned the assertion, but nowadays it may provoke stares. I mean, far from experiencing an arts data shortage, it often feels as though we’re swimming in the stuff. Quite apart from the increasingly … [Read more...] about Making Space for Indigenous Practices in Government Data about the Arts
Art at the intersection: Saving a Community Legacy
Early last year for our magazine American Artscape , Paulette Beete wrote an article “Let Black Voices Ring Again” about the Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society’s participation in the Citizens' Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) to rehabilitate a vacant but historically-significant Black church. In this podcast, we’re following up to trace the continuing impact of … [Read more...] about Art at the intersection: Saving a Community Legacy
Quick Study: Arts-Based Research Methods
In this episode, we consider “different ways of knowing”: how arts-based research can inform our understanding about—well—the arts. A transcript is available here. . … [Read more...] about Quick Study: Arts-Based Research Methods
Meet Amalia Ortiz: Performance Poet and Theater Arts Director at SAY Sí
A discussion with performance poet, performer, and playwright Amalia Ortiz who directs the theater arts program at SAY Sí. SAY Sí is a year-round, long-term, tuition-free multidisciplinary arts program in San Antonio serving middle and high school students primarily at or below the poverty line. In this podcast, Ortiz talks about the work of SAY Sí in general and the theater … [Read more...] about Meet Amalia Ortiz: Performance Poet and Theater Arts Director at SAY Sí