Author: Hanes, R. Philip Jr.

Publication Year: 1964

Media Type: Report

Summary:

The concept of arts councils began to be of vital interest to the American Symphony Orchestra League several years ago because it seemed to embrace practical problems, meanwhile offering a sound way in which to serve a community's cultural needs. Therefore, the League began asking questions and collecting data on arts council organizations and operations on the arts surveys conducted by the Junior League.

Abstract:

I would like to read a quotation from the American Symphony Orchestra League Newsletter of 1955:

The concept of arts councils began to be of vital interest to the American Symphony Orchestra League several years ago because it seemed to embrace practical problems, meanwhile offering a sound way in which to serve a community's cultural needs. Therefore, the League began asking questions and collecting data on arts council organizations and operations on the arts surveys conducted by the Junior League.

When the Rockefeller Foundation grant to ASOL (September 1954) made it possible to undertake a three year survey of the support and organizations of arts groups, ASOL elected to start with arts councils.

Believing the interim report on this work would be of interest to representatives of arts councils, the League issued an invitation to them to attend the 1955 League national convention. Seven councils sent a total of ten representatives.

This was our first national meeting.

A plenary session on arts councils Friday morning, June 16, 1955, was followed by a well-attended workshop - chaired by Ralph Burgard - where interest was so great that, although scheduled for two hours, the session ran until well after midnight.

Thus began the first national conference of arts councils in 1955 - 10 people representing 7 of about 20 arts councils in North America. (p. 139-143)

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Funding