Last weekend marked the annual Americans for the Arts Convention and if you’re like me, you obsessively followed the #AFTACON hashtag on Twitter to read the latest buzz from the lucky attendees in Nashville. As with any conference, you can learn just as much, if not more, from the conversation about the sessions as the sessions themselves. That’s why I compiled a roundup of the most insightful, inspirational, and thought-provoking tweets from the 3-day event.
On Art & Culture
How do you reach past the “traditional” when tradition is part of culture? Even traditions must evolve, adapt #aftacon #artsreaching
— Tim Yergeau (@timyergeau) June 13, 2014
On the Impact of Art
What’s success in the arts? It’s in the moment. It’s a daily thing. We don’t know what’s next. Keep doing it. That’s the end game. # aftacon
— Julina Clare (@JulinaClare) June 13, 2014
On Arts in Crisis
“When we go into panic mode, it’s easy to forget how common sense arts & music are for healing”–Ben Folds #AFTACON http://t.co/n9P2YDd74j
— Ulrich Museum of Art (@UlrichMuseum) June 13, 2014
On Art in Communities
#aftacon #artsreaching: Barriers to opportunity do not exist in isolation. Have to find holistic, cross-sector, cross-disciplinary solutions
— M Kelley (@magdalena_down) June 13, 2014
On Art & Education
RT @ohaiShabab: “Arts ed isn’t an elite activity; this is about social justice and development as a human being.” #PowerofArt #aftacon
— AmericansForTheArts (@Americans4Arts) June 14, 2014
“Arts education is applied creativity. Like they way engineering is applied math and science.” Malissa Schriver has a point. #aftacon
— danielle brazell (@dbrazell1) June 14, 2014
On Art in Non-Artistic Contexts
Artists can be solutions to challenges within businesses and training. Let artists find and present answers. #placingartists #aftacon
— Rebecca Calkin (@rcannonite) June 14, 2014
On Art & Society
Great art can say something you’ve always felt but never heard articulated. Delali Ayivor is doing exactly that for me now at #aftacon
— Hannah Jacobson (@hannahrjacobson) June 15, 2014
“97% of Americans value the arts in their lives. 27% value artists.” – @sarmoti, Jamie Bennett #aftacon
— Bridget Woodbury (@bwoodbury) June 15, 2014
A key takeaway from #AFTACON: Create relationships with the communities you seek to engage. Don’t just tell them what you’ve done for them.
— Jessy Clonts Day (@JessC) June 15, 2014
[Image via Americans for the Arts]