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.


Ms. Emily Peck

The Arts = Prime Real Estate

Posted by Ms. Emily Peck, May 13, 2011 0 comments


Ms. Emily Peck

Emily Peck

Emily Peck

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Museum named a new board chairman, Daniel Brodsky, managing director of the Brodsky Organization, a company that owns and manages apartments throughout Manhattan. As the board leader of a major NYC cultural destination, Brodsky understands the value of the arts to his city and his business.

When asked why CEOs of real estate companies are chairing the boards of many of the major NYC cultural institutions, Brodsky said in the New York Times that they were “’very concerned about the viability of the city,’ which cultural activity contributes to, ‘so there’s a logical reason for real estate people to be involved.’” 

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Justin Knabb

The Devil’s (Arts) Advocate – Are We Paying Our Fair Share? (from Arts Watch)

Posted by Justin Knabb, May 11, 2011 0 comments


Justin Knabb

Justin Knabb

While the recession may be officially over, its effects are still lingering throughout the economies of cities and towns across the nation. Congress, the White House, and governors (who want to be in Congress or the White House) constantly steal the headlines with ways they are going to save the people, and the government, money.

However, mayors are also being forced to deal with budget shortages, proposing municipal budgets that tap previously untouched sources of revenue: nonprofits.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel offered the bluntest statement regarding the need for nonprofits to provide more tax revenue to the city. In remarks given to a group of arts advocates at the Goodman Theatre, Emanuel said, “Nobody is in a sacrifice-free zone. I love you all. You’re really important. But you’re not more important than anybody else.’’

Emanuel, who indicated during the mayoral campaign that he would start billing nonprofits for their water usage, backtracked on an implication that he would remove property tax exemptions for such groups. 

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Tim Mikulski

Google Celebrates Martha Graham

Posted by Tim Mikulski, May 11, 2011 0 comments


Tim Mikulski

Google's Logo for 5/11/11

Google's creative employees often take the opportunity to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, etc., by making special logos, aka Doodles, on their main page.

Some special Doodles in the past included an interactive Pac-Man game, a royal wedding celebration, and an ode to Marc Chagall .

Today is no exception as they put together an animated version utilizing a dancer in honor of the legendary Martha Graham, who would be celebrating her 117th birthday today.

Blakeley White-McGuire, who has been with the Martha Graham Dance Company since 2002, served as the model for the Doodle and she has been kind enough to share the video of that with ARTSblog:  

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Stephanie Riven

Lessons from Harvard's Arts in Education Program

Posted by Stephanie Riven, May 10, 2011 1 comment


Stephanie Riven

Stephanie Riven

I have just spent three months as a visiting practitioner at the Harvard Graduate School of Education/Arts in Education (AIE) Program. Steve Seidel, director of AIE, extended an invitation to me to study, teach, and serve as a resource for students during the semester.

So what did I discover after three months of talking and meeting with young people, auditing classes, and attending forums, lectures, and workshops on arts education, education reform, and leadership?

Three takeaways, among many, include:

1) With changes in the economy, the influence of technology and the expansion of entertainment and leisure options, there is a need for bold ideas and creative leadership in shaping a new vision to move the arts and arts education forward. It is our young leaders who possess many of these ideas. Edward Clapp’s collection of essays from emerging leaders in the field entitled 20UNDER40 is quite simply one of the most exciting and hopeful set of ideas for our field that I encountered. I encourage everyone to get your hands on a copy of this book and pass it around to your staff and board members to create an intergenerational dialogue about how to conceive of, program, and sustain the arts and arts education in the future. 

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Jonathan Lewis

The Power of Film to Encourage Cultural Dialogue

Posted by Jonathan Lewis, May 09, 2011 1 comment


Jonathan Lewis

Jonathan Lewis

On May 12, Washington, D.C., will be treated to an unprecedented collaboration between arts institutions and filmmakers. Museums along the National Mall will be showcasing five international films and five American films as part of Film Forward: Advancing Cultural Dialogue.

This will also mark the first joint public-private partnership between the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the Sundance Institute, the Smithsonian, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Film Forward is a cultural exchange program designed to foster international exchange through film screenings followed by interactive discussions between the audience and the filmmakers. As an art form, film has the ability to communicate the human condition across all languages and cultural barriers. However, what makes this film showcase very special is that the filmmakers themselves have traveled with their films to under-served communities in the United States and across the world. 

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Zack Hayhurst

Completing a Degree in Arts Management

Posted by Zack Hayhurst, May 09, 2011 5 comments


Zack Hayhurst

Today, after two years in the making, I will finally graduate from American University with an M.A. in Arts Management. It certainly has been an interesting two years. One thing is certain – my experiences were not what I would have predicted two years ago when I was applying for programs. However, is this not the case with most things in life? We often expect one thing, yet get another; for better or for worse.

So, let’s get right into it…

First, expectations. For me, undertaking this degree was a necessary life decision. Three years ago, I was in a job and career path that I hated. So, I made a decision while I was still young and unencumbered with obligations, that I would “take the plunge” and go after a life and career that would be personally fulfilling. Since I approached graduate school with this mindset, I suppose I viewed everything in the beginning with rose colored glasses. It was the option that made the most sense, and was the best thing for me to do if I ever wanted the opportunity to work in the arts. 

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