Symposium To Cover New Arts Administration Landscape

The 21th century promises a new set of survival rules for arts and artists. In response to the unfamiliar and often daunting terrain ahead, the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Bolz Center for Arts Administration will present a symposium on the changing relationship between contemporary society and the artistic community.

“A Change of Art” will be held April 25 in Grainger Hall. Among the topics covered will be:

• Approaching new audiences.
• Addressing the value returned from financial donors compared to volunteer aid.
• How presentations need to change to address new cultural influences and expectations.

Special guest presenters will include Peggy Baggett, executive director of the Virginia Commission for the Arts; Dan Dahl, executive director of the Edwin J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall at the University of Akron; and Kathy Dwyer-Southern, executive director of Port Discovery, the Baltimore children’s museum.

Nine first-year Arts Administration students organized all facets of the event. According to symposium chair Patricia Nolan, the intent was to set an example of education in action.

“Students benefit both from the knowledge that will be disseminated, and also from the experience of planning and executing a multi-faceted event with participants and attendees from not only UW–Madison, but from the state and national arts administration field as well,” she says.

More than 65 have registered to attend; for more information, contact Cindy Bauer at (608) 263-4161.