ANIMATING DEMOCRACY E-NEWS

 Animating Democracy News and Updates

Organization of American Historians article focuses on Animating Democracy findings

www.oah.org
Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and leading Public Historian Barbara Franco contributed a feature article to the May issue of the Organization of American Historians (OAH) newsletter. In the article, Franco focuses on the potential impact of Animating Democracy’s new publications on historical organizations seeking to deepen their civic roles. Franco provides an overview of several civic engagement strategies that have been used by history museums and historical sites during the last 20 years.  Among these strategies, she highlights the importance of narrative: “…in understanding history, historians, both public and academic, are rediscovering how powerful personal stories can be in engaging public audiences in serious historical analysis.” Franco also asserts that “…the most lasting outcome of the (Animating Democracy) Initiative may be the development of a consistent methodology that can be used for a wide variety of artistic and historical projects.” To view the article, visit www.oah.org/pubs/nl/2006may/franco.html.

For more information on the new publications from Animating Democracy, visit the publications section of our website: www.AmericansForTheArts.org/AnimatingDemocracy/reading_room/reading_004.asp.

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 News from the Field

Arizona State University launches Finding Phoenix project

http://herbergercollege.asu.edu/news/newsreleases/2006/hcfa_findphoenix_052206.htm
This summer, the Herberger College of Fine Arts Community Partnerships Office at Arizona State University will launch Finding Phoenix—a new arts-based project that explores the intersections of theater and local history as a means of inspiring civic engagement in Phoenix. On June 26, the project will begin with a community dialogue at the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in downtown Phoenix to share stories about the former George Washington Carver High School and its place in the Phoenix community. The information gained from this summer’s meeting and future meetings will culminate in an original, site-specific theater performance at the Carver Cultural Center in June 2007. This performance will focus specifically on the stories of Phoenix community members in their 70s and 80s who lived through the era of segregation and the civil rights movement. Post-performance dialogue will provide a forum for further discussion of the complex history of the Carver and how it informs the present-day lives of all Phoenicians. Beyond 2007, future Finding Phoenix project sites will be selected and will focus on the Latino/a, Asian-American, and Native American historic properties in Phoenix.

For additional information, please contact Director of Community Partnerships Melanie Ohm at 480.727.6639 or Melanie.Ohm@asu.edu, or contact Finding Phoenix Project Director Kate Collins at collinsk8@yahoo.com.

Maine Humanities Council announces Taxing Maine

www.mainehumanities.org/taxingmaine.html
As part of its 30th anniversary this year, the Maine Humanities Council will present Taxing Maine, a short theatrical piece focused on the role of taxes in the state. Through different historical characters, humor, little-known facts, and thought-provoking stories, Taxing Maine will explore what taxes mean for Maine communities, the state government, the Maine landscape, and Mainers’ wallets. The performance—featuring David Greenham, producing director of The Theater at Monmouth—will encourage the audience to consider how history and a range of opinions and beliefs about taxes have influenced the current taxation system. Following each performance, the actors, in character, will engage the audience in a discussion of the ideas raised in the play.

During the project, the council aims to present Taxing Maine in 30 venues across the state. To bring the play to your community, contact Victoria Bonebakker at 207.773.5051 or vbonebak@mainehumanities.org.

Center for Documentary Studies assembles SHARED PATHWAYS: Collaboration and Community in Southwest Central Durham

http://cds.aas.duke.edu
On June 10, The Southwest Central Durham Quality of Life Project (QOL) and the Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) at Duke University invited members of the community to preview a collection of new audio documentaries titled SHARED PATHWAYS: Collaboration and Community in Southwest Central Durham. As a continuation of documentary work conducted in neighborhoods in Southwest Central Durham in summer 2005, CDS asked members of QOL what they wanted to see documented in their community. QOL identified topics they felt would support the goals of their organization: safe and secure neighborhoods, home ownership, sustainable wealth creation, and preservation of history and cultural traditions. From these interviews—conducted by CDS students, ages 16–70, during two weeklong institutes—28 rich and complex stories of a diverse and exciting community were produced.

American Library Association develops focus on civic engagement

www.ala.org
The American Library Association (ALA) has recently developed a focus on civic engagement. Invigorated by questions like "What has gone wrong with our democracy, and what should we do about it?" and "What is the public's role in democracy?" the ALA Fostering Civic Engagement Membership Initiative Group (MIG) will sponsor the Forum on Democracy's Challenge—Saturday, June 24, 2006, 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.—at the upcoming ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. For more information on the Civic Engagement Membership Initiative Group, contact MIG co-conveners Nancy Kranich, nancy.kranich@nyu.edu; Taylor Willingham, taylor@austin-pacific.com; or Mary Ghikas, mghikas@ala.org.

Association of Performing Arts Presenters invites proposals for Ensemble Theatre Travel Subsidy Program

www.artspresenters.org
The Association of Performing Arts Presenters' Ensemble Theatre Travel Subsidy Program provides grants to theater directors, producers, presenters, managers, artists, and agents to see work by ensemble theater companies who have initiated dialogue with them about long-term partnerships. Available for both U.S.-based and international travel, the fund will reimburse up to $2,000 to cover the real cost of one roundtrip airfare, not to exceed $40 per day for up to 10 days. For more information about the program or for eligibility specifications, visit www.artspresenters.org/services/ensembletheatre.cfm. The deadline for proposals is September 12, 2006.

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 Articles and Publications

New report profiles work of AmericaSpeaks

www.americaspeaks.org/resources
AmericaSpeaks, a nonprofit organization that engages citizens in the public decisions that impact their lives, has released a new 24-page report that explores recent work of the organization. In addition to offering principles for successful citizen engagement and approaches to civic engagement, the report explores the use of the 21st Century Town Meeting model to engage citizens throughout the world on issues including healthcare, youth obesity, global poverty, rebuilding New Orleans, and economic development. Copies of the report are available for download via the website.

Kettering Foundation releases new publication mapping civic engagement activities

www.kettering.org/readingroom/pub_detail.aspx?pubID=30&catID=33&itemID=1773
New from the Kettering Foundation, The Civic Renewal Movement by Carmen Sirianni and Lewis Friedland, provides a broad map of innovative community building networks and civic engagement practices, along with an extensive resource guide designed especially for community leaders, activists, and practitioners. The authors look at opportunities as well as obstacles in urban community organizing and development, environmental justice, youth civic engagement, deliberative policy dialogues, and the civic mission of higher education (among others); and consider the dynamic role that government can play as catalyst and partner of civic efforts.

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 Events on the Horizon

Liz Lerman Dance Exchange Summer Institutes
Dates: July 10–16, 2006
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT

www.danceexchange.org

Life/Action/Dance: Dance and the Expressive Possibilities of Contemporary Media
July 10–14, 2006
Dance combines multiple modes of expression, reaching beyond movement to encompass speech, storytelling, music, and visual display. Theatrical dance is currently broadening this expressive vocabulary to embrace the digital arts, using live-feed and recorded video, computer-manipulated imagery, projected text, and aural environments of music and ambient sound. This course offers a weeklong laboratory for participants to extend the expressive possibilities of dance through traditional and contemporary media. Starting with techniques that mine immediate environments and personal experiences as sources for dance ideas, the course will progress through text-and-movement applications, then explore the possibilities of digital media in live theatrical frameworks, demonstrating Isadora® graphic programming software developed by Troika Ranch. Tuition fee: $450.

Dance Intensive for Senior Adults
July 10–14, 2006
The older dancer is a vibrant mover, creator, and collaborator. In this dance intensive, senior adults are fully immersed in the artistic process—creating, refining, and performing. This course welcomes adults age 55 and older. No previous dance experience is required. Participants may be adults who dance or danced professionally; danced at an earlier point in their lives and want to be dancing again; enjoy recreational dancing (such as folk, ballroom, or line dancing) and want to explore a broader practice of dance; or are just becoming interested in a structured dance experience. Each day starts with physical warm-up, including both beginning level and advanced offerings such as yoga, modern, partnering, and improvisation. After warm-up, creative sessions explore choreographic methods used in Dance Exchange practice. Tuition fee: $450.

Critical Response Process: Giving and Getting Feedback
July 15–16, 2006
Giving and getting feedback is a skill at the foundation of leadership, education, and growth as an artist. In this course, we will learn and practice the Critical Response Process method for communicating feedback, grounded in such ideas as “Nothing is too small to notice,” “When defensiveness starts, learning stops,” and “Turn discomfort into inquiry.” Conversations move through a sequence of structured steps: making statements, asking questions, offering answers, and volunteering opinions. This course will explore how specific communications structures assure an open conversation, supporting the individual’s ability to develop his/her own best work. In this two-day workshop, we will discuss how the Critical Response Process applies to leadership, art-making, arts management, and arts education. Lunch is provided on both days. Tuition fee: $350.

Urban Bush Women Summer Institute
Dates: July 21–30, 2006
Brooklyn, NY

www.urbanbushwomen.org
Now in its third year in Brooklyn, the Urban Bush Women Summer Institute strives to connect concert professionals and community-based artists together in a learning experience to explore the arts as a vehicle for social activism and civic engagement. This year’s theme, Place Matters, will examine the dance, culture, and politics of New Orleans—both pre- and post-Hurricane Katrina—through multilevel dance classes and workshops on gentrification, and race and dialogic learning. Guest faculty will include Rev. David Billings and Ron Chisom of the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond of New Orleans; choreographer Millicent Johnnie, a native of Louisiana well-versed in vernacular dance forms; and community-based dance specialist and choreographer Vincent Thomas. Housing is not provided, but for low-cost options please e-mail info@urbanbushwomen.org. Tuition for the 10-day intensive is $750, with limited scholarship assistance available.
 

Let the Circle Be Unbroken
Alternate ROOTS Annual Meeting
Dates: August 8–13, 2006
Arden, NC

www.alternateROOTS.org
For 30 years, Alternate ROOTS has sustained a sphere of support for artists working at the intersection of art and activism. Let the Circle Be Unbroken, the theme of this year’s annual meeting—August 8–13, 2006, at The Lutheridge Conference Center in Arden, NC—will gather artists, grassroots activists and organizers, and educators to participate in performance and visual art presentations, studios, Open Space and Critical Response sessions, and business meetings led by a diverse group of artists-activists coming together to make art and impact positive social change.

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 About Animating Democracy

Animating Democracy is a four-year initiative of Americans for the Arts and is made possible with support from the Ford Foundation.

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Do you have news you would like to share with Animating Democracy and the broader world of art and civic engagement? Send an e-mail to adi@artsusa.org with "Animating Democracy E-News" in the subject line. Please be sure to include full contact information.

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