September 5, 2021—More than ever before, arts organizations throughout the country are recognizing that their survival depends upon their responsiveness to this era of demands for social and racial justice and the need for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access (EDI&A). Forward-thinking, “woke” organizations are taking bold action—they are determined that welcoming diverse audiences is a priority for how they intend to do business. What I’ve … Continue reading The Building Blocks of Welcome

August 22, 2021—I recently read an insightful blog post written by my long-time friend and colleague John Haworth about the national arts service organization, Native Arts & Culture Foundation (NACF). Established more than a decade ago, NACF supports Indigenous artists, culture bearers, and Native-led arts organizations through fellowships and project funding. And the projects they support run the gamut—from social justice to community engagement. I … Continue reading Turning the Spotlight on the Native Arts & Culture Foundation

August 15, 2021—As our performing arts community prepares for more and more re-openings, I thought it would be important to share the experiences and lessons learned by our colleagues in other places. My friend and colleague, Erik Gensler, founder of Capacity Interactive, recently shared with me a link to an interview he conducted for his podcast, “CI to Eye,” with Claire Spencer, CEO of Arts … Continue reading CI to Eye with Claire Spencer

August 8, 2021—It’s my favorite time of the summer—HARLEM WEEK 2021! This year’s festival is a “reimagined” event featuring 10 days of live and virtual celebrations of the history, people, arts, culture, and entertainment that reaffirm Harlem as a global destination. As the readers of Arts & Culture Connections know, HARLEM WEEK began as a one-day event of encouragement and fellowship for the African-American residents … Continue reading HARLEM WEEK Reimagined for 2021

August 1, 2021 — I recently had the opportunity to moderate a webinar with a panel of esteemed colleagues working in the field of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) to address “What an Anti-Racist Arts Organization Looks Like and How The Cultural Industry Can Respond To Racial Injustice.” Sponsored by Arts Reach, an association of arts management, marketing and development professionals, the panelists discussed trends, challenges … Continue reading How The Cultural Industry Can Respond To Racial Injustice

July 25, 2021—I recently had the delightful opportunity of moderating a discussion with the creative leaders of the Najwa Dance Corps (NDC) for the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project’s Legacy Conversation Series. You can view my discussion with Najwa I, Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus, and Sheila Walker-Wilkins, Executive Director, at this link. NDC is comprised of professional dancers and musicians devoted to the performance, … Continue reading Chicago’s Black Dance Legacy Project Spotlights Najwa Dance Corps

July 18, 2021—In the wake of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, a coalition of artists, curators, culture producers, and organizers has been forged, committed to using the arts to support racial justice movements. The coalition is called The Blacksmiths. I recently had the honor of speaking with one of the founders—Michelle Taylor of the multi-faceted, artist management company Passion Music Group—who shared some … Continue reading Utilizing the Arts to Support Racial Justice

play above Making Dance Accessible to All July 7, 2021—As the readers of Arts & Culture Connections know, I am passionate about dance! That’s why I am delighted to share with you a wonderful interview conducted by the extraordinary Aaron Dworkin with Malik Robinson, executive director of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company (CPRD) and chair of Dance USA. The interview was conducted for Aaron’s … Continue reading Making Dance Accessible to All