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Living Cultural Democracy: Arts in Changing Communities
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Table Top Display Information -Travel Information - Local Hosts and Sponsors
Sponsorship Opportunities - Money Saving Opportunities -Scholarship Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities - Program Advertisement Opportunities - Emerging Leaders
Milwaukee Happenings - Evening Events - ARTventures - Keynote Speakers
Session Information - Artists in Residence - Innovator Series - Convention Schedule
Web Brochure - Convention Wrap-up
Living Cultural Democracy: Arts in Changing Communities, the Americans for the Arts 2006 Annual Convention, was a great success! Throughout the meeting, over 900 cultural leaders explored ways to activate the full power of our nation’s cultural wealth. Opening keynote speaker Juan Williams, NPR senior correspondent and political analyst, made meaningful connections between the cultural leadership of the civil rights movement, our current political and social landscape, and the unique role of the arts in civic engagement. The Hessenius Group continued the conversation on Saturday afternoon with a provocative discussion about changes that arts leaders are facing. Innovators, Rebecca Ryan and Cora Mirikitani, offered insights from their work in interviews with Abel Lopez. The annual awards luncheon celebrated the great achievements of Michael Newton award winner Alecia Townsend-Kintner; Selina Roberts Ottum award winner Jerry Allen; first-ever Emerging Leader award winner Jennifer Armstrong; and Public Art award winner Mark di Suvero. Spoken word artists in residence Paul S. Flores, Kwabena Nixon, and Ishle Yi Park garnered two standing ovations for their lyrical and frank reflections on cultural democracy. Closing keynote speaker, Hector Cantu, got us laughing with quips and quotes from his nationally syndicated cartoon strip Baldo. Legendary singer-songwriter and social activist, Peter Yarrow, serenaded the lunchtime crowd on Monday and performed at the American for the Arts Action Fund reception later that day.
Throughout the convention, participants contributed to and benefited from peer group discussions, field sessions, and advocacy workshops designed to draw out the implications of demographic trends, funding patterns, promising practices, and expanding influence. Evening events at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, and the Milwaukee Art Museum—as well as ARTventures throughout the region—provided relaxation and a glimpse of the rooted past and vibrant future in Milwaukee.
The convention also included vital gatherings of the American for the Arts broad network: United States Urban Arts Federation; Arts & Business Councils and Business Volunteers for the Arts Programs; United Arts Funds Network; State Arts Action Network and the State Arts Advocacy Captains; Public Art Network; Arts Education Network; and Emerging Leader Network; as well as our partners in the forthcoming Arts & Economic Prosperity national research study and a post-convention national meeting of State Community Development Directors.
The City of Las Vegas Cultural Affairs Division and host Nancy Deaner invite everyone to join us for the next Americans for the Arts Annual Convention, June 2–4, 2007!