Monday, April 26, 2010

Seattle's Creative Vitality Index

While reading through CVI again, I noticed that 60% of the index is Community Arts Participation Index. It is comprised of these factors:

-Non-profit arts organization income (10%)
- Non-profit “arts-active” organization income (10%)
- Per capita bookstore and record store sales (8%)
- Per capita music store sales of instruments and equipment (8%)
- Per capita photography store sales (8%)
- Motion picture theater attendance (8%)
- Museum and art gallery revenues (8%)

My question is this: do you think this is an accurate picture of arts participation? What does arts participation mean to you?

Friday, April 16, 2010

Arts Think Tank II

As I have been conversing with various artists about this idea of an arts think tank, it occurs to me that the first order of business should be 1) looking at the Tampa Bay area in the context of what is and what is not working for the artists outside of the big houses; 2) define the economic impact using newer, sustainability measures; and 3) making arts councils aware of these new measures and request that they be considered criteria of the grant-making package.

Most likely we will need meetings to achieve these goals, in addition to a yearly conference.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Arts Think Tank

After reading Scott Walters and Tom Loughlin for awhile now, it has occurred to me that perhaps an advocacy think tank for the arts is in order. Advocacy think tanks, unlike older (supposedly) non-partisan ones combine ideological bent with aggressive salesmanship in an effort to influence current policy debate. Then I'm reading Michael R. Gagliardo's post on ARTSblog, and walla! He's talking about Influencing policy at the local, state, and national levels Sounds a lot like think tank speak to me. It's great to read all these new ideas (localization, arts education etc.) in the blogosphere, but perhaps it's time for a definitive paper that delineates these ideas on paper and an effort be made toward making the media and public aware of them. After a quick check on the net, I see Collective Arts Think Tank which is encouraging because they have had meetings that include presenters, a critic, artists, service organizations and grant-makers. I know Paul Mullins had spoken of a discussion recently with the comment that talk is cheap, so perhaps creating a think tank in Seattle with various representatives of the artistic community would be more influential. Perhaps steps have been made out there that I am not aware of. I would be happy to hear about these initiatives.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

New Seeds Salon - Apr - Guantanamo

Don't miss this one!

Guantanamo and Terrorism from a Civil Liberties and National Security Perspective. Mike Pheneger will be presenting.

Mike Pheneger, Colonel, US Army (R), represents Florida on the ACLU's National Board and, until this month, served on the ACLU's National Executive Committee. He frequently serves as a public spokesperson for the ACLU of Florida on issues involving civil liberties and national security.

Salon starts at 9, presentation at 9:30!