Building Communities, Not Audiences: The Future of the Arts in
the U.S , written and edited by Doug Borwick, holds that
established arts organizations, for practical and moral reasons,
need to be more deeply connected to their communities. It serves
as an essential primer for any member of the arts
community–artist, administrator, board member, patron, or
friend–who is interested in the future of the arts in the U.S. It
also provides new ways of looking at the arts as a powerful force
for building better communities and improving lives. “It is from
community that the arts developed and it is in serving
communities that the arts will thrive . . . Communities do not
exist to serve the arts; the arts exist to serve communities.”
Building Communities, Not Audiences identifies the factors that
serve to isolate established arts organizations from their
communities, points out the trends that loom as imminent threats
to the long-term viability of the artistic status quo, and
presents principles and mechanisms whereby arts organizations can
significantly extend their reach into the community, supporting
enhanced sustainability. Included are case studies and examples
of successful community engagement work being conducted by arts
organizations from around the U.S. Twenty-three contributors,
representing chamber music, dance, museums, opera, orchestras,
and theatre as well as an array of arts administration
perspectives provide breadth of coverage. “The economic, social,
and political environments out of which the infrastructure for
Western ‘high arts’ grew have changed. Today’s major arts
institutions, products of that legacy, no longer benefit from
relatively inexpensive labor, a nominally geneous culture, or
a polity openly managed by an elite class. Expenses are rising
precipitously and competition for major donors is increasing; as
a result, the survival of established arts organizations hinges
on their ability to engage effectively with a far broader segment
of the population than has been true to date.”
-------------------------- From the Foreword by Rocco Landesman,
Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts: “I think the days of
the arts in ivory towers are behind us; the very best arts
organizations are . . . connecting communities with artists . . .
. Not only can the arts build communities, I think we must.” From
the Foreword by Robert L. Lynch, President & CEO, Americans for
the Arts: “Doug Borwick calls for substantive rather than
superficial efforts, authentic and systemic changes. . . . The
challenge is not whether to build communities or audiences but
how to build communities and audiences together.”
-------------------------- Contributors: Barbara Schaffer Bacon:
Co-Director, Animating Democracy Sandra Bernhard: Director/HGOco,
Houston Grand Opera Susan Badger Booth: Professor, Eastern
Michigan University Tom Borrup: Principal, Creative Community
Builders Ben Cameron: Program Director for the Arts, Doris Duke
Charitable Foundation William Cleveland: Director, Center for the
Study of Art and Community Lyz Crane: Community Development
Consultant David Dombrosky: CMO/InstantEncore Maryo Gard Ewell:
Community Arts Consultant Tom Finkelpearl: Executive Director,
Queens Museum of Art Pam Korza: Co-Director, Animating Democracy
Denise Kulawik: Principal, Oneiros, LLC Helen Les: Artist,
Civic Art Advocate Dorothy ther Pugh: Founder & Artistic
Director, Ballet Memphis Stephanie Moore: Arts and Culture
Researcher Diane Ragsdale: Cultural Critic, Speaker, Writer Noel
Raymond: Co-Director, Pillsbury House Theatre, St. Paul, MN
Preranna Reddy: Director-Public Events, Queens Museum of Art
Sebastian Ruth: Founder/Artistic Director, Community MusicWorks,
Providence, RI Russell Willis Taylor: President & CEO, National
Arts Strategies James Undercofler: Professor, Drexel University;
former President/CEO, Philadelphia Orchestra Roseann Weiss:
Director, CAT Institute, Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis, MO
- Used Book in Good Condition.