Thank you to the many people who have been blog contributors to, and readers of ArtsBlog over the years. ArtsBlog has long been a space where we uplifted stories from the field that demonstrated how the arts strengthen our communities socially, educationally, and economically; where trends and issues and controversies were called out; and advocacy tools were provided to help you make the case for more arts funding and favorable arts policies.

As part of Americans for the Arts’ recent Strategic Realignment Process, we were asked to evaluate our storytelling communications platforms and evolve the way we share content. As a result, we launched the Designing Our Destiny portal to explore new ways of telling stories and sharing information, one that is consistent with our longtime practice of, “No numbers without a story, and no stories without a number.”

As we put our energy into developing this platform and reevaluate our communications strategies, we have put ArtsBlog on hold. That is, you can read past blog posts, but we are not posting new ones. You can look to the Designing Our Destiny portal and our news items feed on the Americans for the Arts website for stories you would have seen in ArtsBlog in the past.

ArtsBlog will remain online through this year as we determine the best way to archive this valuable resource and the knowledge you’ve shared here.

As ever, we are grateful for your participation in ArtsBlog and thank you for your work in advancing the arts. It is important, and you are important for doing it.


Alison French

Does Art Need a Bodyguard?

Posted by Alison French, Jun 26, 2010 0 comments


Alison French

Alison Schwartz

As technology enables artists and arts groups to share video and content of their work to the masses, some artists (and unions) are raising the question of control. As I sat down to hear the session, Technology’s Impact on the Future of Traditional Arts Delivery Systems at the Americans for the Arts Half-Century Summit, I was curious to hear what the panel had to say about control. Should we protect the artistic process? Does art-making need to be mysterious to be magical?

After reading a recent article about Peter Gelb, managing director of the Metropolitan Opera in Vanity Fair, I was looking forward to hearing how the MET had sold its casts and crews and artistic team on the idea of broadcasting its productions via LIVE satellite to audiences in movie theaters across the world. As a marketing professional, this strategy sounds like a smart, creative and bold way to engage new audiences. As a former stage manager, it sounds impossible. How did the MET get everyone on board with cameras on stage, backstage, in the house, in the lobbies? Elena Park, the director of creative content at the Met Opera, shared their story with us yesterday. And Tim Svenonius from SFMOMA, Ferol Vernon of ReverbNation, and Rich Mintz from Blue State Digital all provided supportive commentary.

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Ms. Anne Katz

Notes from the Pre-Conference Day

Posted by Ms. Anne Katz, Jun 25, 2010 0 comments


Ms. Anne Katz

Anne Katz

The Half-Century Summit is the 18th NALAA/AFTA conference I’ve attended.  My first time was DC in 1988, when I really didn’t know anything about local arts development.  In the years since, I’ve been to the conferences in Columbus, San Jose, St. Louise, Minneapolis, Denver, LA, New York, Atlanta, Portland, Nashville, Austin, Milwaukee, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Seattle and now Baltimore (and DC at least once more), and I’ve learned so much from these gatherings and my connections to the local arts field.   I’m a little hazy on the specific years that we were in Atlanta, Denver and Portland, but I have great memories from each conference.  Most of these great memories are about laughs and deep conversation with the people in the field, statewide organization and local arts leaders who are passionate about their work.  These are my peeps, the colleagues who are doing creative advocacy, service and development work statewide and locally.    I have come to rely on them for support, analysis, camaraderie and good humor – important qualities that these friends provide in very meaningful ways.  As advertised, I come to the conference to reconnect, recharge, refresh and learn new ideas and methods (I am a big believer in stealing great ideas from others, and love it when people steal my ideas as well!), to adapt and use for Wisconsin.

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Ms. Jennifer A. Armstrong

This is a hold up…Reach for the sky!

Posted by Ms. Jennifer A. Armstrong, Jun 24, 2010 0 comments


Ms. Jennifer A. Armstrong

I was recently captivated by a keynote speaker’s unique perspective on leadership. He asked all of the leaders in the room to stretch both of their arms up and reach for the sky. That’s what leaders do; they see a vision and reach for it. However, after awhile, their arms will get tired. The question posed to us was, who will stand by them to help them keep reaching? Many are quick to criticize and tear down those in leadership positions, but do we do just as much or more to support leaders trying to move us toward something new?

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Ms. Lex Leifheit

Break on Through

Posted by Ms. Lex Leifheit, Jun 24, 2010 0 comments


Ms. Lex Leifheit

Lex Leifheit

It’s almost here … the “Half  Century Summit.” Sounds impressive, doesn’t it? What can one see from the summit? Where does one go?

In the arts sector, most of us haven’t had the privilege of a summit perspective for a long while. I think that’s changing, and at this summit I’m surveying the landscape for tales from the field: others, like me, who have broken through to the Other Side:

  • the Other Side of leadership, moving from emerging leader to executive or artistic director.
  • the Other Side of recession, taking advantage of new funding, partnerships and earned income strategies to expand programming.
  • the Other Side of advocacy, having successfully made a case to preserve and increase government funding.
  • the Other Side of Client Relationship Management, utilizing cloud-based audience development strategies (yes I’m a geek)
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