Blog

Kelly Strayhorn Theater Provides Unique Venue for Voices of Social Change

2.10.19

The mission of the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) is to strengthen the performing arts globally through the advancement of leadership, the exchange of ideas, and by fostering a diverse and engaged membership. At this year’s gathering in New York City, our Executive Director janera Solomon had the honor of being the keynote speaker. “As arts organizations, we have new realities. Locale matters.”, she said. “We have to better understand the communities, neighborhoods, even streets where we are located, not only as places for our offices or performance venues but as ecosystems. Yes, we know we need communities as donors, audiences, volunteers, etc. but, we have to see ourselves as part of a neighborhood ecology.”

She encouraged the group of arts leaders from around the world to think locally and compassionately.

“To not only be bold in our thinking, to also be compassionate, encouraging of each other, to see the unique potential. As we move forward, as arts leaders, we have to ask: do our institutions, in the office, backstage, or in the board room, reflect the ideals, and the values, we champion in our communities? Are our boardroom and water cooler conversations, especially about the thorny issues of our time — race, class, orientation — transparent, thoughtful, enlightened? How will the places where we work, mirror the ideals of the art we make? Do we have institutional cultures that foster the habits we want to see in a more thoughtful world?”

janera’s address was well received by a crowd made up of 639 delegates from 51 countries around the world.

Learn more about ISPA here.

Leave a Reply