Open Dialog IX

Open Dialogue IX

San Jose, California
July 18th-20th, 2003

A Spiritually Up-Lifting Three Days with Arts Workers
of Color from Across the Nation.

Presented by the Association of American Cultures, TAAC

Increasing Arts Education and Advocacy at the Undergraduate and Graduate Level.

Conveners:
Ellissa Collier, Americans for the Arts, Barbara Buck, DMA Kentucky State University

Participants:
Cheryl Platon, Northside Community Center, Cathy Silvern, Carnegie Mellon University, Ronnie Jessie, City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Angela Johnson, Angela Johnson Consulting, Betty Garza, Mariachi San Jose, Pedro Perez, Ballet Folklorico Alegre, Mai Bui, Association for Viet Arts.

How do we make the connection with students and get them involved in the arts as advocates?

In this discussion, we talked about the challenges of and solutions for encouraging students to get involved in the arts at the local, state and national level.

Education: The importance of creating awareness before creating advocates.

By providing resources for understanding the state of the arts and encouraging involvement early on, we are really creating life-long art and culture appreciators. These are our future board members and colleagues!

Solutions:

  1. Increasing cross-disciplinary studies/ethnic studies programs. Learning to appreciate the arts from a non-western approach.
  2. Creating mentoring/networking opportunities and encouraging intergenerational Dialogue. Nurturing is needed from veteran/older artists. Young and older artists must work together.
  3. Ensuring that community arts organizations partner with the colleges and universities in their communities. Encouraging service-learning projects/giving back to our community.
  4. Making classes that deal with cultural diversity a requirement for graduation.
  5. Increasing students understanding of public policy, funding, and cultural policy by encouraging involvement with Local and State Arts Agencies.
  6. Providing monetary support/establishing scholarships for students (with TAAC support).

Advocacy: Collective participation can effect change!

  1. Recognizing and targeting our future leaders: MFA, Arts Administration, Film, Theatre, Music, Community Development, Ethnic Studies, Sociology and Education students, etc.
  2. Creating college internship programs with National organizations like Americans for the Arts and TAAC.
  3. Encouraging TAAC to think of students as potential contributors. Leaders from TAAC should visit colleges and universities and talk about how cuts in funding affect students and their communities and offer solutions.
  4. Creating forums led by youth (under guidance of more experienced arts leaders) in conjunction with arts committees and arts organizations.
  5. Establishing a listserv/job bank and publicizing jobs and internships on TAAC's website.
  6. Building and expanding our network by forming partnerships between colleges (for example HBCUs)
  7. Encouraging students to work in the community as part of their graduate and undergraduate study. Start with your nearest resources to engage students immediately. (Example from Carnegie Mellon)

Ideas for Future Discussion: How Do We…

  1. Measure our success (Is it through membership?)
  2. Secure Funding/Human Resources (especially at a time of crisis)
  3. Solve the problem of talented youth majoring in more practical disciplines