“Now what do we do” — Report on National Performing Arts Convention 2008
October 27, 2008 • 4 minute read
Report on National Performing Arts Convention 2008, by MK Wegmann
After the first National Performing Arts Convention in Pittsburgh in 2004, the original organizations, who had combined their annual meetings for this ground-breaking national gathering, invited NPN and about 30 other national organizations to join the effort. The second NPAC in Denver in 2008 was framed with the expressed interest to find a way for the nationwide performing arts community to “Take Action Together.” When the five “core” organizers met with us to form a coalition for the purpose of planning NPAC, we all agreed to the importance of engaging the larger performing arts community, and especially wanted to ensure that independent artists would also be present and visible. The NPN board affirmed that NPN’s active engagement with NPAC could provide an important forum for our sector of the field, and could bring to this wider group the viewpoints of artist-centered organizations committed to cultural equity. For 3 years, I attended meetings with this group of leaders as we planned the content for NPAC in Denver, and designed the process for engaging America Speaks, whose methodology provides forums where all voices can be heard.
When NPAC took place June 11-14, 2008, more than 3,500 individuals, including more than 600 independent artists, convened in Denver. By combining our four usual Regional Meetings, and with the generous support of Altria, NPN convened about 120 NPN Partners and artists to participate in NPAC. On the surface, 120 people out of 3,500 is a small minority – less than 4%. Our first challenge was to become a vocal and visible minority – and when a second challenge emerged, how to be a radical minority.
Our Thursday morning orientation meeting became an organizing meeting. We armed ourselves with language and discussion points based on work done by Dudley Cocke to create a Declaration on Cultural Equity.
“Cultural equity is a pillar supporting our aspirations as a performing arts community. Further, we affirm:
- Our nation’s cultural diversity is a National Treasure
- Equitable exchange among cultural communities builds mutual trust and understanding
- The Federal Government has a leading role to play promoting cultural equity at home and abroad.”