When most empirical researchers in the arts think of Alan Lomax (1915-2002)—which is probably not often, or not often enough—they might envision a man in a rumpled suit, hauling a reel-to-reel tape machine in the backseat of his car, bound for Appalachia or the Mississippi Delta to record a folk or blues artist. Or maybe they picture him in a hotel room, asking questions and … [Read more...] about Classifying Songs and Societies to Promote Cultural Equity—Can It Be Done?
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Novelist Kevin Wilson tackles serious issues through an outrageous premise
Kevin Wilson, the author of the NEA Big Read title Nothing to See Here, explains his long-time obsession with spontaneous human combustion—a condition that figures prominently in the novel. In a nutshell, 28-year-old Lillian is tasked with minding the stepchildren of a wealthy old school friend whose politician husband has two kids who literally burst into flames … [Read more...] about Novelist Kevin Wilson tackles serious issues through an outrageous premise
Quick Study: Arts Strategies for Recovery and Resilience
In this episode, we look at a federal plan—developed with input from multiple agencies—that would integrate arts and culture with tactics to foster equitable well-being and resilience for communities. A transcript is available here. … [Read more...] about Quick Study: Arts Strategies for Recovery and Resilience
Art at the Intersection: Work as Dance!
Founder and Artistic Director of Forklift Danceworks Allison Orr talks about the community-based dance company and its many collaborations. Forklift creates community-based dance performances with workers that show their skilled movements and tell the often unheard stories of the people whose jobs sustain our daily lives. The workers collaborate with the artistic … [Read more...] about Art at the Intersection: Work as Dance!
Revisiting the First U.S. Statistical Report about the Arts
With the start of each new year, it’s salutary not only to make new plans but also to practice humility and take encouragement from what has gone before. Those of us who aggregate and analyze quantitative data about the arts can embark on 2023 with the knowledge that, 90 years earlier, the first major statistical product of this thrillingly complex enterprise was delivered to … [Read more...] about Revisiting the First U.S. Statistical Report about the Arts