Abe Flores

Last week, we heard several leaders call for and outline new directions for the arts field – the directions may be viewed as revolutions or simply a guided evolution from the current status quo. Nevertheless the ideas presented offer a vision for the field where diversity, authentic engagement, funding parity, branding, audience data, play, blurred divisions, and catalytic professional networks, among other things, give arts administrators a greater understanding of a communities’ needs, wants, and aspirations in order to ensure we are serving as well as leading all segments of our community with and through the arts.

When asked for an example of a revolution in arts administration:

• Aileen Alon discussed how to help others see the arts as “a key part to the meal” – integral to and intertwined with our daily lives and community’s well-being.
• Rebecca Bradley wrote about museums and accessibility.
• Gregory Burbidge asked new leaders to prioritize age equity.
• Nicholas Dragga discussed a local project serving the special needs of his small town.
• Olga Garay-English asked the field to join America’s Latinos in the quest for greater funding parity.
• Floyd Hall looked at the overlap and some lesson arts administrators can learn from entrepreneurs.
• Brea Heidelberg asked how do we become better as a field?
• Paul Kadzielski reviewed three things an aquarium can teach arts institutions.
• Candance Kita argued why we should embrace a spirit of play.
• Elena Muslar evolves the label of “arts administrator” into more layered positions.
• Whitney Roux outlined how a local emerging leader’s network can start to make real impact in communities and the sustainability of the arts.
• JR Russ argued for artist advocacy.
• Amy Scheidegger encouraged blurred divisions of labor.
• Lindsay So discussed the search to effectively articulate the art’s intrinsic impact.
• Linda Steele & Chris Mcleod outline what the power of brands can do for the arts.
• Anna Stokes & Tommy Butler discuss the benefits of cross-sector learning in leadership training.
• Angela Venuti made the case for changing how the arts view value and engagement.
• Bridget Woodbury examined how organizations made their mission work for their audience.
• Patrice Worthy wrote how the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is leading the diversification of their audience and staff.
• Nate Zeisler answers the question: How do we prepare conservatory students for careers in the 21st century?

Thank you to this week’s bloggers and readers. We will continue the conversation in Chicago at the Arts Leadership Preconference!

Also, some of our Emerging Leaders Network members will be hosting a Twitter Party on professional development opportunities in the arts administration field. Here are the details:

Emerging Leaders Network Twitter Party, this Friday April 24th at 12:00 – 12:30pm (EST)

Hashtag #ELNetwork to join the conversation.

Your “party” hosts are Elisheba Johnson, Jessica Gaines, and Hilary Amnah. Special Emerging Leaders Network guest is Brea Heidelberg, featured in this Blog Salon, assistant professor in Arts Administration at Rider University.

Join the party to discuss issues like the ones you have been reading about here on ARTSBlog with other arts leaders across the country!