Is local non-profit theater over? In crisis? In decline? About to pivot? On the verge of a massive shift? Funding is down down down. Ticket sales too. Was the pandemic the cause? Or did it hasten changes already in the works pre-pandemic? What are the remedies? My feed is full of dire threats and serious recommendations. I’ve been collecting these and am sharing some … [Read more...] about Now What? Celebrate Relevance.
Artists Leading
George Floyd ArtBlack Lives MatterGathered May 31—June 11 in Over-the-Rhine and DT Cincinnati Named all the artists I know -- if you know any, put it in the comments so I can add them! … [Read more...] about Artists Leading
Audience and Actors Sharing The Thin Place
Emily Cass McDonnell knows The Thin Place works because of magic. She stars as Hilda in the Playwrights Horizons debut of Lucas Hnath’s play which opens this week, but she’s been with the production since the first readings. Last spring, The Thin Place had its premiere at the 43rd Humana Festival of New Plays at Actors Theater in Louisville. That’s when McDonnell … [Read more...] about Audience and Actors Sharing The Thin Place
How Do We Know It’s Creative Placemaking?
Creating a strong, resilient, and sustainable field of practice requires broad agreement and a common understanding of the reasons for doing the work. After a year of testing and gathering input from people new to creative placemaking and others with deep experience in the field, we are releasing a discussion guide designed for creative placemaking initiative partners to … [Read more...] about How Do We Know It’s Creative Placemaking?
Violin vs. Phone
Anne-Sophie Mutter was playing the gorgeous slow movement of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra when she.... suddenly lowered her instrument and stopped playing. The conductor turned and stopped—and then the orchestra stopped. And ASM started speaking to a woman who was sitting in the front row: "Either you put your phone away or I … [Read more...] about Violin vs. Phone
AN INAUGURAL LOCAL LEADERS’ INSTITUTE FOCUSES ON CREATIVE PLACEMAKING
Local government officials and cultural leaders are increasingly embracing creative placemaking as a tool to strengthen communities. In urban and rural places across the country, they are collaborating with residents to develop arts, culture, and design projects that help transform the economic, social and physical landscape in tangible—and equitable—ways. Some local leaders … [Read more...] about AN INAUGURAL LOCAL LEADERS’ INSTITUTE FOCUSES ON CREATIVE PLACEMAKING
Photo: As part of Artes Pa’lante, Aimee Tejada leads community zumba classes on the steps of Blessed Sacrament Church in Boston’s Latin Quarter. Photo by Mark Saperstein, courtesy ArtPlace America. People ask 'what do you do?' - I guess it's not always obvious from my posts. ? Last year, I got the wonderful invite to assist with a conversation about Creative Placemaking, … [Read more...] about
https://www.artsjournal.com/brightride/2019/09/19/is-this-a-human-rights-movement/
Music Makes Art Magic: Atelier des Lumières
Instead of relaxing into the New Year and creating the annual column about the favorite things of the last 12 months, we went to Paris. Yes, we saw a lot of art in a week. Every walk is a gallery stroll, even if you never go inside. But we did go inside: Fondation Louis Vuitton for BASQUIAT and the Gehry building, JR at Maison Européenne de la Photographie, a concert at … [Read more...] about Music Makes Art Magic: Atelier des Lumières
Art on Trains: July Edition
In July, I went to Iowa via Aspen and took two train rides to make it work. Wednesday: Denver to Glenwood Springs 9 AM The train is about two hours late getting into Denver. The couple standing behind me in the platform line is from Canada. They are with friends who live in the area and the two couples are headed up to Glenwood Springs to enjoy the waters. The woman … [Read more...] about Art on Trains: July Edition
CA to Colorado on the Zephyr: Train Art and Culture
On June 12, I boarded the train for a 34-hour ride to Denver, on my way to the annual convention of Americans for the Arts. My assignment to myself was to write something about every hour I was awake. It turns out there's a lot of art and culture to see on long train rides. Tuesday 9 AM Seriously, I’m so excited to be getting on the train to … [Read more...] about CA to Colorado on the Zephyr: Train Art and Culture