EALS 2019 Panels and Activities
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Panel Sessions
Getting Everyone on Board: The State of Board Diversity and Finding a Path Forward
As the guiding force of an organization, a nonprofit’s board of trustees holds the responsibility of representing its community. However, according to a 2017 BoardSource report, people of color have never represented more than 18% of nonprofit board membership. Although an increasing number of chief executives and board chairs express dissatisfaction with the lack of demographic diversity on their boards, board composition has changed little in the past two years, leaving arts organizations at risk of creating non-inclusive strategies and ignoring important voices. This panel will discuss emerging practices for board recruitment and the impact of board diversity (or lack thereof) on arts organizations.
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Panelists
Lisa Richards Toney - Independent Consultant
Jim Taylor - Vice President of Leadership Initiatives, BoardSource
Ximena Varela - Director, Arts Management Program at American University
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Moderator
Joe Frandoni - Deputy Director, Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County
Breaking Out of the Four Walls: How Museums are Using Digital Strategy to Engage Wider Audiences
From Instagram to virtual reality, museums are finding new ways to connect with their audiences digitally. As technology is becoming omni-present in our lives, the opportunities to reach new audiences and engage patrons outside of the physical boundaries of the museum space are growing. What new digital strategy tools are museums finding most engaging? And how can these tools effectively be used to reach new audiences?
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Panelists
Sara Snyder - Chief of External Affairs & Digital Strategies, SAAM & Renwick Gallery
Mara Kurlandsky - Digital Projects Manager, National Museum of Women in the Arts
Marisa Beahm Klein - Creative Content Manager, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Daniel Davis - Manager of Interpretive Media, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
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Moderator
Allison Peck - Director of External Affairs and Partnerships, Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building
Stirring the (Paint) Pot: Achieving Political Relevance Without Alienating Stakeholders
Throughout history art has responded to the social and political events of the time, and has become a prominent force in the progress of social activism and political reform. Art has the power to point out injustices and arouse controversy, often incorporating dark humor, aggressive imagery, and suggestive media. Our First Amendment freedoms place no legal barriers on political art, but it’s not uncommon for a line to be drawn when it comes to placing these works in institutions. Board members, major donors, and other stakeholders are important to consider in the decision to host political art. This panel will discuss political art, censorship, and how institutions find the balance between giving voice to social movements and pleasing conservative stakeholders.
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Panelists
Maria del Carmen Montoya - Assistant Professor of Sculpture & Spatial Practices, George Washington University
Jack Rasmussen - Director & Curator, American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center
Britta Joy Peterson - Dance Program Director, American University
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Moderator
Annalisa Dias - Multidisciplinary Theatre Artist & Community Organizer
Gateway to Inclusion: Innovative Technology for Arts Accessibility
The gateway to inclusion now fits in the palm of your hand. Smartphones can provide some of the most useful tools for making spaces more welcoming to a wide variety of guests. Technological advances in accessibility and inclusion allow guests to experience the arts in a more comfortable, personal way, and using a cell phone for access provides a sense of normalcy. This panel will discuss apps, technologies, programs, education, and lessons learned in the field.
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Panelists
Betty Siegel - Director of VSA & Accessibility, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Dominic Mota - Front of House Operations Manager, Signature Theatre
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Moderator
Brandon Cordrey - CEO, Visual Art Exchange
Dollars, Donors & Drives: The Continuing Evolution of Philanthropy in Nonprofit Arts Organizations
Philanthropy as we know it is changing. From GoFundMe to #GivingTuesday, fundraising strategies are evolving to reach new audiences. In addition, recent tax laws will impact giving in unpredictable ways. How can arts organizations keep up with the times and utilize new strategies to diversify and grow their donor base? This panel will explore the new ways that arts nonprofits are reaching their donors old and new, and dig deep into how the state of philanthropy is—and isn’t—adapting for the future.
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Panelists
Diana Hossack - Executive Director, Opera Lafayette
Laura Willumsen - Director of Development, Shakespeare Theatre Co.
Shayla Hines - Associate Director of Development, Chorus America
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Moderator
Laura Hagood - VP of Development, National Building Museum
Add each panel session as an item to the repeater.
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Title
Description
Panelists
Moderator
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Workshops and Activities
Americans for the Arts: Workshop Intersectionality
Each day, everyone lives with intersecting identities, some given at birth and some earned by choices made along a lifetime, that impact the privilege we each have. In this workshop, participants will engage in an intentional exercise that will involve reflecting upon the influences of diversity upon their own identity, as well as the impact these intersections has on the work in the communities in which they serve and belong.
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Panelists
Cristyn Johnson - Local Arts Advancement Program Manager, Americans for the Arts
Joshua Henry Jenkins - Director of Web & New Media, Americans for the Arts
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Creating Safe(r) Spaces in the Performing Arts: A We Have Voice Roundtable Discussion
In this roundtable discussion, members of the We Have Voice Collective will speak about the Collective's formation, its Open Letter, the WHV Code of Conduct, and further future initiatives. The panelists will hold a space for ample dialog with the audience members around the issues at the center of the Collective's mission and activity, developing an understanding of and working toward equity and the creation of safe(r) spaces in the performing arts.
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Collective Members
Fay Victor
Ganavya Doraiswamy
Imani Uzuri
Jen Shyu
Kavita Shah
Linda May Han Oh
Maria Grand
Nicole Mitchell
Okkyung Lee
Rajna Swaminathan
Sara Serpa
Tamar Sella
Terri Lyne Carrington
Tia Fuller
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Learn more about the We Have Voice Collective here!
Resume Review with EALDC
Emerging Arts Leaders DC will host resume review tables during our lunchtime networking sessions. Bring your resume and sign up for a one-on-one review session with an arts-world expert. Space for this activity will be limited. Symposium attendees who are interested in resume reviews will be able to sign up for a slot during the morning check-in time.
Reviewers
Ryan Merkel - Campaign Director, Arena Stage
Lindsay Sheridan - Interim Executive Director, Cathedral Choral Society
John Anderson - Fundraising Program Manager, Avalon Consulting Group
Arts Administrators of Color Table
Founded in July 2016, the Arts Administrators of Color DMV Network (AAC) is an arts service network that focuses on networking and community building through the arts. AAC is committed to empowering artists and arts administrators by advocating for access, diversity, inclusion, and equity in the arts through their programs and resources.
Come meet the Arts Administrators of Color team at their table in the Katzen Rotunda!
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National Museum of Women in the Arts Table
The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. With its collections, exhibitions, programs, and online content, the museum seeks to inspire dynamic exchanges about art and ideas. NMWA advocates for better representation of women artists and serves as a vital center for thought leadership, community engagement, and social change. NMWA addresses the gender imbalance in the presentation of art by bringing to light important women artists of the past while promoting great women artists working today.
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Stop by and chat with the NMWA team at their table in the Katzen Rotunda!
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Colleague Connect: Small Roundtables Networking
Meet arts administrators who share your professional interests! Attendees will be split up by their respective concentrations to discuss what's up in different areas of the field. We'll have prompts that help you to share what you know, what you've learned, and what you're looking forward to.
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Join us in the Katzen Rotunda from 1-2pm!