How will the world be different in 5 years?
That’s the question I’ll ask leaders of arts & cultural organizations in a series of FutureCast exercises I’ll be facilitating around the country starting next month.* When the program was conceived last Spring, its intention felt timely, refreshing, and productive – to study the trajectories of demographics, technology, and the economy (and more!) and imagine the exciting opportunities ahead for the arts & cultural organizations that anticipate them.
*It’s not too late! Contact me if you’re interested in hosting a FutureCast in your community!
Today, I asked my Facebook friends to answer that question – and asked for replies without cynicism. Among the responses:
Not a good time to ask. Try again in 90 days, when we have some idea of how much of the news out of DC is durable.
I’ve sworn off predicting the future. We’ll see it when it gets here. P.S. That’s not the same thing as giving up on fighting for the future.
It all depends on what we do today.
Understandable. Many feel lost in a fog – driving slowly and warily, barely able to see the road ahead – no idea how long this will last yet fearful of stopping for the danger of what may be approaching from behind.
How do we relax to consider the future, when the present feels so treacherous?
I really don’t know. I don’t have that answer.
But just as they say in sports that “the best defense is a good offense” I have to believe that the foundation of progress is a healthy attitude and a compelling imagination.
So, the show will go on. My responsibility will be to help arts & cultural leaders pause their worries and cynicism for just 90 minutes – long enough to restore mindfulness and purposefulness to the opportunities ahead – and also long enough to recall that it is the nature of arts and cultural experience to inspire the best in humanity.
Our goal is worthwhile. It’s time to get to work.
As Shakespeare wrote, “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”
And if you need a little musical pick-me-up:
I believe one of the most important things we will see is collaboration. Collaboration between and among all kinds of arts organizations. We need to focus our efforts on kids. They will, with contacts through the arts, bring us a brighter future. I am currently working with two arts organizations in FL that produce and present all kinds of art from museums and art galleries to concerts and broadway shows to film. Both are using education focus to bring youth orchestras, young film makers, young visual artists together and expose them to all aspects of art. This is where our future lies. All the rest is just making enough money to keep going, keep bringing joy and wonder and life to the audiences we have.
Am surprised / not surprised to see the tone of your recent message, Matt. I, for one, am the most optimistic that I have been in eight years. My health insurance premiums have gone up $50/month as of this month, and some of my RXs are no longer covered (such as my thyroid medicine – not “optional”), all thanks to Obamacare. So I am looking forward to positive reform from Washington.
Am glad to see that you ARE an optimist. You spoke in Richmond, VA last spring, and I was fortunate to hear you. Am hoping that one day, my group The James River Ringers will want to burst out of their ’90’s shell and take your advice on developing an audience. Our President is still stuck, and the group hasn’t “revolted” yet, much to my dismay. A look at our website says a lot. I feel your path would be so right for us. Happy New Year!