The San Diego business leader and arts patron Harvey White is calling for a broader education focus that adds the arts to all the talk of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) skills. He began talking about it as board chair of the local economic development corportation. Now he's formalized his call with an article in today's San Diego Union-Tribune. Here's a … [Read more...] about Full STEAM Ahead – Arts and the Innovation Gap
Can we talk?
California Arts Advocates, of which I'm VP, begins a statewide visioning initiative with a first convening in Sacramento this week. We describe our goal this way:This convening is not so much about finding new language to better describe or market what we do in the arts; this is about launching an unprecedented inquiry into what is needed for the arts to become an indispensable … [Read more...] about Can we talk?
Hillary Clinton Sings Our Song
Two weeks ago Secretary of State Clinton spoke at Georgetown University about issues of Human Rights. The final question from the audience concerned the role the arts can play in advancing Human Rights. The Secretary's fantastic answer - and the one any artist or arts advocate might have tried to write for her - can be seen at minute 56:50 on this C-SPAN video.She starts with … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Sings Our Song
Music by, for, and of a Community
I had the great good fortune of attending one of the LA Phil's last West Coast Left Coast concerts two weeks ago. It had the intimacy and ambiance of a community event unlike most orchestra concerts I attend. I came away understanding more than ever how effectively the LA Phil plays the role of community convener for its city.I went to hear William (Bill) Kraft's "Timpani … [Read more...] about Music by, for, and of a Community
Loving Where You Live is Important to the Economy
A colleague shared this Soul of the Community Knight Foundation/Gallup Poll research with me. It has fantastic findings for arts and culture advocates. My two favorites are After interviewing close to 28,000 people in 26 communities over two years, the study has found that three main qualities bind people to place: social offerings such as entertainment venues and places to … [Read more...] about Loving Where You Live is Important to the Economy