People concerned about issues related to the arts and equity (funding is just one area) have used many terms to describe the juggernaut that is the world of symphonies, ballet companies, museums, and theaters. Most of the terminology used is either offensive or absurdly complex (and/or unwieldy). “Mainstream” illustrates the former. It implies this Eurocentric world to be the standard, the “normal.” It places it at the center, marginalizing those … [Read more...]
Storm Brewing
I've written before about the impact funding inequity is having on political discourse about government support of the arts. The Visible Hand was a response to Barry Hessenius' observations about funding controversies in San Francisco three years ago: A Potential Deep Divide in the Arts Sector. A colleague recently sent me the link to an article about a bill that has been introduced in the Pennsylvania legislature to examine "systemic racism in … [Read more...]
Social Silos
"I don't know anyone who . . . ." Recently, a colleague presented a workshop on nonprofit financial management to a group of board members of and volunteers for very small grassroots social service organizations. In the course of one of their discussions a participant observed, "I don't know anyone who is not working two jobs." My colleague's first reaction was that this was highly atypical. The nonprofit board members many of us are used … [Read more...]
Universality/Particularity
In keeping with the spirit of my just-concluded series on privilege I wanted to direct readers to a very good blog post by fellow ArtsJournal writer Alexander Laing. His Dear White Orchestras helps put some of the issues I addressed in a context specific to an arts form, in this case symphony orchestras. His introduction of the contrast between universality and particularity is especially important for those of us in the world of legacy arts … [Read more...]
Privilege/Encumbrance: Part III
This post is the last of a three-part series that is not strictly about community engagement. However, to engage with communities with which one is not familiar it is essential to understand the dynamics of privilege. This is especially true when the “engager” is as directly viewed as a representative of wealth and power as is the nonprofit arts establishment. (You may find the complete essay here: Privilege/Encumbrance.) Last week's post … [Read more...]
Privilege/Encumbrance: Part II
This post is the second of a three-part series that is not strictly about community engagement. However, to engage with communities with which one is not familiar it is essential to understand the dynamics of privilege. This is especially true when the “engager” is as directly viewed as a representative of wealth and power as is the nonprofit arts establishment. (When the series is completed, I will post the entire essay on my website.) Last … [Read more...]
Privilege/Encumbrance: Part I
This post is the beginning of a three-part series that is not strictly about community engagement. (When it is completed, I will post the entire essay on my website.) However, to engage with communities with which one is not familiar it is essential to understand the dynamics of privilege. This is especially true when the “engager” is as directly viewed as a representative of wealth and power as is the nonprofit arts … [Read more...]
Blindsided
It's been a week since the election. I have spent the time (metaphorically) in the fetal position under the covers. I regret that I've not had the psychological energy to weigh in before; I'm now viscerally aware that with age comes a marked reduction in resilience. (Who knew?) I will confess that one of my first impulses was to throw in the towel on my work attempting to better connect arts organizations with their communities. Even then, … [Read more...]
Fifth Anniversary Highlights: Considering Whiteness
During the month of August, Engaging Matters is republishing some of the most widely read articles from the five years this blog has been in existence. One of the most pressing issues facing the future of the nonprofit arts industry is the role of race and culture in our work. Guest posts by Roberto Bedoya (Considering Whiteness, copied below, and The White Racial Frame) are important and have been widely read. My own response to his challenge … [Read more...]
Cultural Equity
On May 23 Americans for the Arts released its new Statement on Cultural Equity. Before going any further, let me acknowledge that I'm a white guy of a certain age and have no expertise to comment on it. Nevertheless, I'm vitally interested in this. My interest is based on 1) a deep personal conviction about the issue and 2) an awareness that without embracing substantive steps toward equity and making real changes as a result the nonprofit arts … [Read more...]