In my experience, sitting through local government meetings is generally dull. Not because the topics are unimportant or because the decisions are of little consequence but because the meetings lack the focus of drama or ritual. As a result, time passes slowly, comments by the public and elected officials are rooted in the personal, and formal decisions are seldom a surprise. … [Read more...] about Rallying To Save Arts Education Part 2
Rallying To Save Arts Education Part 1
It's been a full advocacy week in San Diego since I wrote last Thursday. Richard Kessler posted on his AJ blog yesterday that the Board of Trustees of the San Diego Unified School District voted to keep the Visual and Performing Arts Department intact. Here's what we did in the short-term to convince them to do it.Thursday evening those of us monitoring the situation on … [Read more...] about Rallying To Save Arts Education Part 1
Survey Says…
I missed my weekly Thursday entry last week to devote the night before to prepping the CA Arts Advocates Action Alert calling for support of Assembly Bill 700, The Creative Industries Economic Revitalization Act. Today, we'll find out if it moves from the Appropriations Committee to the full Assembly, remains in the "Suspense File" until next January, or is voted down. If … [Read more...] about Survey Says…
Art of the Employees
I've been thinking all week about the passing of Augusto Boal at the beginning of the month. His impact as a theater innovator spans generations, though he started with work similar to others. Luis Valdez's early work amongst migrant workers in the fields of California was agit prop just like Boal's work amongst Brazilian farmers. It's Boal's evolution and codification of his … [Read more...] about Art of the Employees
Advocacy without Action is only Complaining
State and local government budgets are in free fall and arts funding as well as arts education is more vulnerable than ever. What's happening in your corner of the country? When you receive the call to take action to sustain government support for the arts be sure you do it immediately.This week, the Pennsylvania Senate voted to completely eliminate arts, film, and public … [Read more...] about Advocacy without Action is only Complaining