Metro Atlanta Arts & Culture Coalition — Keep The Dream Alive
On Monday night Lain and I attended a Town Hall meeting at 7 Stages Theatre to discuss “Survival Strategies for Arts & Culture Organizations in the Current Economy.”
The event was hosted by the Metro Atlanta Arts and Culture Coalition.
Over 160 representatives from arts and culture organizations attended. A panel of experts spoke about how cultural groups can use more strategery in current economic times.*
Big-time speakers included –
Karen Beavor, President & CEO
Georgia Center for Nonprofits
Mary Pat Crouch, Vice President
Coxe Curry & Associates
Penny McPhee, President & Trustee
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
Shirley Mitchell, Senior VP, Market Development
Bank of America
All of the speakers were effective, encouraging, and (very importantly) concise.
The audience then shared their own success stories (following one man who, apparently after wandering into the wrong meeting and tuning out the entire presentation, spoke about traffic issues and asked us to make a change. Buddy, I’m flattered you think I have that kind of pull!).
Not everything was applicable to the Wren’s Nest (our HR department is actually a squirrel out back), but what didn’t apply to us was made up for by the $1 beers, which always apply to us. And let me tell you, arts and culture folks really know how to knock 1 or 2 back.
But enough about us. We want to hear from you. Please, choose a question below and answer it in the comments.
- Which strategies work for your arts organization in this economy?
- Which strategies don’t work?
- What did you think of the event?
Don’t be shy! We’re waiting with bated breath.
*They stink.
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Amelia Trace Lerner
Program Director
Lain Shakespeare
Executive Director
11 Comments to Metro Atlanta Arts & Culture Coalition — Keep The Dream Alive
Folks, thanks for participating in the March 16 Town Meeting. There are a two issues I’d like the arts community to take a stand on:
1) A “call to action” –let’s take ownership of how the greater community can help arts groups and artists in these trying times–help us compile a useful list of implementable ideas that we can pitch to the press either as an article or an editorial—we need to keep the arts at the forefront of the public dialogue and provide the public with the tools to help.
2) The Mayor emailed me yesterday expressing her concern about the recent City Council resolution to ONLY FUND Fire & Police in next year’s City Budget and asking MAACC to get the word out to the arts community. This effort would further cut funding to arts & cultural initiatives within the City’s Budget. Please contact your City Council members and express your views on this matter at: http://apps.atlantaga.gov/citycouncil/council.htm
Madam,
If my comments are worth mentioning I think it is appropriate to include all of them especially if you are suggesting that I did not pay attention to the presentations.
I had 10 suggestions that were a Direct response to Pat Crouch’s top 10 list of ideas.
I also suggested that the MAACC community reach out to the youth as a way to cut costs and ensure the future for the Arts. I remarked that there weren’t any youth organizations represented. We are asking them to bare the weight of this economy. We work for them now.
My second suggestion did have to do with Traffic however I was cut off before I could continue. You also stated that I wasn’t helping which I thought was in poor taste given the nature of a Town Hall meeting.
My third point was actually going to be a question. Why wasn’t the 2009 election mentioned at all? Isn’t this the most significant event this year that will have an impact on Arts and Culture in the years to come?
If the MAACC has direct access to the Mayor, City Council, Government Funding and major sponsors the I DO think you “have that kind of pull”. Certainly more than the independent artists I came to represent.
As I mentioned at the meeting, we have been working for 3 years to ban together and try and improve our communication channels, align our skill sets and improve our numbers at our events.
I work with artists, venues and promoters who all do what they do without the assistance of the government or private donations. We rely 100% on ticket sales (compared to 10% as reported by Karen Beavor) We are self sustaining and have a MUCH larger young crowd than any organization that was represented in that room.
I think it is foolish to ignore the lessons that young people are teaching us right now. When the leaders in the Art community start to sound like CEO’s of failing companies I do question their ability to make Cultural decisions.
Art has many responsibilities. NONE of them are Fiscal.
Art needs to Evolve to find the heroes of THIS generation. We don’t even need money we need your support.
I also ask if you feel that my suggestions are not helpful that you provide feedback as to why you feel that way. We should not be discouraging participation from ANYONE in times like these. It is not for you to decide what is relevant.
Sincerely,
Turner Knapp
ConnectATL
“Where do you fit in?”
Turner, what do you mean by youth?
The Wren’s Nest caters to all ages, but most of our programming is directed at younger audiences. If you’re referring to “youth” as in, say, the 18 – 25 demographic, our two present staff members also fit the bill. We were certainly not alone in either regard.
Nobody said your opinions were invalid. But your condescending tone, lack of specific solutions, incoherent presentation, and disregard for the opinions of others probably didn’t help.
With the brief amount of time allotted and the topic of “successful best practices,” your 10 point presentation on civic ideals was overbearing and out of place. It’s one thing to waste everyone’s time, and it’s another to storm off before hearing anyone else out. Giving folks the same courtesy that you so fervently demand might be a good place for you to start.
I’m sure that “returning bar hours to their pre-2003 levels” is a worthy cause, but Monday night’s presentation was neither the time nor the place. The bar where we convened after the meeting might have been.
so what part of “arts and culture” do you fall under
Lain with all due respect you didn’t hear all 10 of my points so I again think it is a little premature to say that they were overbearing. If you feel that I was “wasting everybody’s time” then how is that not invalidating my opinions?
Whose opinions have I disregarded?
I think my tone is appropriate for knee jerk reactions I am getting from some folks. I assure you this is as mean as I get. Everybody hates me at first but when I become the one fighting for them they understand. I am only trying to bring fresh ideas to a group that needs them.
Can you please comment specifically how I was wasting your time in the 2 minutes I got to speak?
How are the bar hours not relevant in a discussion about Culture in this Economy? It certainly has a big impact on Tourism and our Gay Community.
Did you have any feedback on the Election? Do you feel that is a significant event this year for Culture or the Arts?
What parts of presentation are you finding incoherent? Maybe I can help explain them further. Lets have a discussion and skip the judgments about my reasons for being here.
Steve I happen to represent Club Culture or Nightlife if you will. I have 2 years worth of recordings of meetings with various artists who work in the City. If you would like to hear from them the recordings can be found on our myspace page.
http://www.myspace.com/connectatl in the blog section.
In 2005 I was asked to work with the Atlanta Ballet Center for Dance Education’s Summer Program to develop an “Electronic Ballet”, if you will, where the score was performed by a DJ rather than an Orchestra. In 2001 Broadway switched to a recorded score due to funding shortages, I developed the “Electronic Ballet” as a way to introduce a recorded score without completely eliminating the organic aspect of it.
That performance can be found here:
http://www.metrognomeagency.com/images/Video/ElectronicBallet_Levity_high.wmv
In 2006 the Atlanta Ballet announced it would not be renewing its contract with the orchestra. They opted to use a CD rather than a DJ. Oh well.
http://www.accessatlanta.com/arts/content/arts/stories/0721LVballet.html
I have also been interviewed a few times by the Loaf on my efforts in the Club scene:
As ConnectATL:
http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/connectatl/Content?oid=330119
As the MetroGnome Agency:
http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/top_5_ways_to_elevate_club_life/Content?oid=483054
I have also spent the last 10 years designing and building financial forecast and budgeting models for several large banks and government agencies. I currently consult in that area.
I lend those skills to the Club community free of charge so that they might get a leg up.
So hopefully that helps substantiate my reasons for being at the meeting. Club Culture is a major component of tourism in any major city.
We would like to make it less of an enigma for the folks who support this city in other ways. We are trying to demonstrate that we are more Necessary than Evil.
Thank you all very much for posting my comments and providing your feedback. I want you guys to win in the end I promise.
I apologize for leaving the meeting early but I felt it was in the best interest of the group. I’m sure I was missed
Turner
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The ABCDE project was an adaptation from the Romantic Era to bridge the gap between the older and younger audience members. (bonus points if you can name the ballet)
A similar concept was applied to Rome and Jewels which is a Hip Hop adaptation done by Renne Harris out of Philadelphia. His inspiration was west side story. He now has 3 full length productions that tour the country.
These are the kinds of productions that inspire the youth. It shows them that they can aspire to be a lot more than a cell phone ring tone. It allows them to tell a story in their own words and movement.
They are high risk productions but the amount of actual Capital at risk is minimal. This allows you to take more risks. The productions are also smaller which allows you to fit in medium sized venues bringing ticket prices down even further while still maintaining profitable or at the very least break even margins.
This is just one example of how club culture is becoming part of the fabric of performing arts. We aren’t that different.
Turner, thank you for your input. I don’t have the answers to your questions, but I’m glad that you included a few specific examples of what y’all do.
Let me open up the floor — would anyone else like to share specific strategies that your arts organization have utilized in this economy? Perhaps those of you who didn’t have a chance to speak on Monday night?
Dear MAACC, I can offer no solutions, but as Turner has shown his experience in very diverse sides of Atlanta art and club culture that make him more than qualified to speak about the issues at hand.
He’s in touch with the very demographic your panel wants to connect with. We’re not talking just a few hundred people here either. I would think his insight, along with others experience, could only benefit your cause and provide an outside source for consulting to this panel.
As a level-headed governing body you have to acknowledge not just the 9am-5pm arts and organizations in the forefront of this conversation, but all sides of Atlanta industry and culture that actively thrive during later hours and represent ALL active walks of life in our beloved city.
Obviously he is not trying to rally for just the after-hours, but really the artists and musicians that do everything they can to make ATL a better and more enjoyable experience for those around them.
He, as well as i, have seen the various ups and downs of this city’s dealings in regard to the the arts, the venues, and the sides of ATL culture that still breathe while most of the average population is thinking about getting ready for bed.
Turner is a current active and relevant member that has nothing but heart in all he does and is recognized amongst the broad genres and communities of the thriving arts and culture of ATL in which we speak. I cannot speak for the breadth of Turner’s resumé, but You cannot fail in making a connection with someone who is offering valid insight standing as a driving force in the topics you have come together to discuss.
I have taken the time to partake in some of the meetings that Turner and his cohorts have organized and they were insightful and beneficial to all who partook. I cannot say that i’m a close friend of Turner, so i have no vested interests other than helping to make progress.
Progress is why you have come together and it would be a failure not to take this opportunity converse with an active and in-touch member of the community.
For a small investment of your time, this could be nothing more than 100% beneficial to the MAACC to have in-depth discussion with Turner to further discuss perceptions, solutions, and ideas.
It really could be an eye-opening experience for all and provide talking points amongst the panel afterwards paving the road to a much needed synergy amongst the city and its people.
Connect.
I’d like to get the CALL TO ACTION section of this blog up and running….here are a few suggestions of what we can encourage patrons in Atlanta can do to help:
1. Bring a friend or relative to a production/opening
2 Give theater tickets or exhibit admissions for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day or birthdays this year
3. Sign up and get friends to sign up for AtlantaPlanIt.com’s special offers
4. Invite an out-of-town guest
[...] gotten slightly side-tracked in the comments section of our last post, so we wanted to start [...]