I have a quick thought today. Are you participating in the arts as an audience member? Yes, you might be the artist or the behind the scenes administrator, so you are participating in the arts. However, I feel one of the reasons the audience is getting less and less is because some of us are not being good audience members to other artists and arts organizations.
We are also not participating enough in spreading the word. It is rare when I receive an email from an artist about something other than their own personal e-Newsletter. When was the last time you as a musician (hi musicians), spread the word about an upcoming performance for your own group or another group you are not performing in? Theatre people, you happen to be better than most of us, but you could also share more. Dance people, you are also becoming better at spreading the word, but you all could share in the responsibility. Museum folks, yes, you can be more enthusiastic about sharing word about an exhibit.
It is not so cut and dry anymore. Share the enthusiasm for your art and for others’ art! Become an audience for other artists and arts organizations. Artists and the arts administrators could be more a part of the audience development game. Instead of simply relying on the few arts marketers out there, maybe we all could start participating more.
-Shoshana
Matchmaker for the Arts
Thanks Shoshana, this is an excellent point that helps us as artists to LISTEN to our audience. Another I was turned onto (likely thru you) is to imagine what it would take to get me to attend an art form I like but never attend? Or one that I don’t think I like for that matter? The answers point to some of our own.