Author: Arts Midwest and Metropolitan Group

Publication Year: 2015

Media Type: Report

Summary:

Arts Midwest and Metropolitan Group recently launched Creating Connection, a report that details our findings from a national research project conducted in Fall 2014 around public values, behaviors, and attitudes as they relate to arts and culture. Part of a broader effort to use the social change strategy building public will to make arts and culture a more recognized, valued, and expected part of our everyday lives, this report signals the completion of our first phase of work.

Abstract:

On behalf of Arts Midwest and Metropolitan Group, we are pleased to present the following report which outlines our organizations’ collaborative efforts to advance arts and culture in our nation.

One of six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations created to encourage development of the arts and to support arts programs, Arts Midwest has been at the forefront of researching and leading policy discussions on behalf of the arts across the Midwest and the nation. Historically, these efforts have broadened the base of support for public arts funding, fostered new cooperation among arts and cultural organizations, strengthened advocacy efforts, helped organizations articulate their public value, and demonstrated how international cultural exchange contributes to effective diplomacy.

Metropolitan Group is a social change agency that crafts and integrates creative and strategic services that empower public purpose organizations to build a just and sustainable world. The agency works on behalf of nonprofit organizations, public agencies, foundations, and socially responsible businesses to achieve lasting changes in attitudes, behaviors, cultural and community norms, systems, environments, and policies across a wide range of issues. Notable accomplishments include promoting improvements in public health, learning and literacy, environmental sustainability, and community and economic development, as well as advancing social justice and human rights.

Today, Arts Midwest and Metropolitan Group are joining together to pursue a new initiative on behalf of the arts and cultural sector. Our efforts are informed by our legacies of success, as well as our shared concern for declining engagement with arts and culture via participation, financial support, and political action. In the following report, we detail our initial work to launch a national research and communications initiative that aims to strengthen the value of, support for, and active engagement with arts and culture in our society.

While we have already achieved significant progress toward this ambitious goal, we recognize that there is considerable work on the horizon. And we hope that you will join our effort—by learning more about our project and by involving your organization or community in the next phase of our work. Lastly, we wish to thank the many individuals, organizations, and agencies that have invested their time and resources in our work; their commitment is both remarkable and humbling. [Introduction, p. 3]

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Participation, Community Development, Civic Dialogue and Social Change