At the moment I’m getting my hands on everything Seth Godin has written. There’s something magical about having someone tell you to be an artist, do your art and, if it’s not being appreciated, do it better. It’s simple, concise, and easy to follow.

In Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? Mr. Godin explains that a linchpin is someone in the workplace “who is indispensable, who cannot be replaced – her role is just far too unique and valuable.” He asserts that we’re all capable of being a linchpin; that we’re all brilliant and can create art. Mr. Godin’s definition of art is not resigned to the brush and canvas. Rather, it is you rising to the level of excellence that you are capable of.

Gapingvoid, a company known for its quirky cartoons and inspirational sayings, posits: “Don’t be the best in the world at what you do, be the only one in the world who does what you do.”

Can you imagine what that would look like if applied to your community? To your neighborhood? Why not start with your street?!

Think about this: Can you name the neighbors who live on either side of you? Do you know where they work, what the family dynamic is? Do they listen to music, or see movies, or maybe even go to the museum or opera? 

What about the people on the other side of them, and so on? Bridging that gap in community leads to “CommUnity”, and it starts with opening the dialogue. As Ms. Zabel points out in her essay “Arts & Inter-Community Connection” we are a self-segregating culture, “...based on class, race, income, geography, opinion, and values.” 

And it’s only getting worse. We forget a time when evenings were spent on the front porch, and every house along the road had families chatting and spending that time together. Where neighbors were invited over and welcomed into that family time.

Artistic endeavors present the opportunity to bridge that gap and fulfill that role. Being the linchpin in the community where anybody, regardless of class, race, etc. can feel comfortable being a part of.

These are five ways to create an artistic linchpin:

1) Community Arts

There’s a place for you to build connections in your community. A community center, church, park or even in the front yard. Invite people there to build bridges.

2) Inclusive Arts

All communities have art groups, which could be producers of theatre, paint classes, photography clubs, book clubs, slam poets, etc. Get out of your comfort zone, and get involved! Meet those people, learn about them. Follow your passion.

3) Arts Education

Start them young. The arts are consistently shown to lead to increased test scores, more engaged citizens, higher levels of creativity, capacity for learning, understanding and empathy. Enroll your children in art programs. Don’t do it expecting Yo-Yo Ma or Picasso. Do it because it’s an integral part of developmental learning and it leads to understanding others.

4) Public Art

Sometimes a community will open itself up to dialogue by adding a piece of public art. Most recently I enjoyed learning about Chicago’s statues calling visitors and telling them a little about history, a little about themselves, or maybe even telling a joke. Where many people are gathered there is an opportunity to learn more about someone different than you.

5) Advocacy

Share this. Tell everyone you know to do the same. Reading this, you’re aware of how important the arts are to building community. Make sure you encourage others to do the same.