All Thoughts Considered…

It isn’t surprising that market based thinking would figure out a way to co-opt the artists and the artistic process to contribute to bottom line thinking. There is nothing wrong with that, but as we see a certain inevitabilty to the capitalist drift that creates a stronger economic divide between the haves and the have nots based on corporate thinking that thinks only of the bottom line, we must be sure that as artists and arts educators, we do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. A more artful economy is, of course, a desirable thing. A more sustainable and viable arts sector in the society is also a desirable thing. But what is most desirable is an educated population that thinks critically that recognizes its need for the arts as it considers its own notions of progress. The walls of the JFK Center are most articulate about this in the quotes from that president who uniquely understood the intrinsic value of the arts. We should not lose sight of those values and as artists and arts educators we must be vigorous in innovation that makes critical thinking on the part of creators and the seekers of creativity occur at a robust level. If that means that the artists education must be a broader one, so be it….but it certainly means that the audience must be broadened as well. Leadership in this area is critical.