Three experiences converged into one idea for me this week: if the arts can be viewed as a part of the solution to social problems they will increase their standing in the hierarchy of public causes.1 - I attended the partners' lunch for San Diego's Monarch School, our local charter school for homeless teenagers, where I heard story after story of individuals and businesses … [Read more...] about Making Art – Making Community – Making Cents
The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Ricola
The heirs of America's most well known musical theater team, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, have sold the rights to the works of these two artists to a foreign pension fund. In case you forgot, these include Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music. Should you be alarmed that these landmarks of the American musical theater will now … [Read more...] about The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Ricola
Art as Policy Proposal
I am an everyday advocate for the arts to be part of the public and government policy conversation. But I don't have any idea how many artists are directly engaging elected officials. I know many are making art that includes political commentary but suspect that very few are applying their creativity to the workaday world of government. By chance, I've come across an artist … [Read more...] about Art as Policy Proposal
City Arts Funding in a Time of Crisis
I'm back after a spring break that included camping on the CA coast. I returned home for budget week in the City of San Diego. For months local supporters of arts funding have been wondering whether or not the mayor would recommend a cut in city support for arts and culture. All were ready to rally if we saw drastic cuts proposed as has happened in other cities. On Monday, the … [Read more...] about City Arts Funding in a Time of Crisis
An Advocacy Message to Share
Yesterday, I read this Newsweek article about Wynton Marsalis' delivery of the annual Nancy Hanks Lecture at Kennedy Center the night before he spoke to Congress. This article makes it clear that Mr. Marsalis didn't give a speech - he performed one. After reading about this performance, I did what anyone who reads this article from outside the arts world might do: I went … [Read more...] about An Advocacy Message to Share