Converging Worlds: Art, Politics and Community

Posted by on March 5, 2007

Philadelphians will soon have the unusual opportunity and pleasure of learning from Arlene Goldbard, author of “New Creative Community: The Art of Cultural Development”, and member of The Shalom Center’s board. (She’s a Californian and rarely gets east for such teaching.)

Arlene integrates research, advocacy and writing in the study and understanding of community cultural development. Her new book integrates the theory and practice of community arts as a mechanism for social change.

There are three opportunities to engage with Arlene and her work: a public lecture and two workshops for practitioners in the field. The sponsoring organizations have generously opened the workshops to the artist community but there are very limited spaces available. Registration information is below.

Converging Worlds: Art, Politics and Community
Public Lecture – Temple University
Tuesday, March 20, 4:30-6:30 pm
Anderson Hall, Lecture Hall 14
Berks Mall and 12th Street, Main Campus
Free. No registration required.

The Ethics of Community Arts
Workshop – Moore College of Art and Design
Wednesday, March 21 11:30-1:00
20th and the Parkway
Free. Registration Required. Only 10 spaces available.

Workshop Description: As more and more artists get involved in the exciting field of community cultural development, they encounter the unique ethical challenges of participatory arts practice. How is it possible to balance the commitment to a funder or sponsoring organization with commitments to community participants? Is the community artist’s role to channel others’ creativity without intruding, or should the artist’s own aesthetics, values, and priorities be part of the mix? How do you handle censorship, conflict, disruption? Arlene’s advice is based on decades of experience with practitioners and their real-world challenges.

Refreshing Your Vision
Workshop-Fleisher Art Memorial
Wednesday, March 21, 4:30-6:30 pm
719 Catherine Streets
Free. Registration Required. Only 10 spaces available.

Workshop Description: Arts activists sometimes get advocacy fatigue: how to summon the energy to make the case one more time to people who don’t seem to be listening? This workshop offers fresh, new ways to look at your work, energizing your creativity and sense of mission.

Registration: To register for the workshops, please email Sarah at linc@pcah.us with the following information:

Workshop for which you are registering:
Your Name:
Email Address:
Phone:
Organizational Affiliation, if any:
Artistic Discipline:
Years in the Field of Community Arts:

Due to the limited spaces, please register only if you are sure you can attend and let us know if your plans change. We will confirm your registration by email.

Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation
Avenue of the Arts
230 South Broad St., Suite 1003
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-545-4037 (phone)
215-545-4039 (fax)