Author and cultural policy consultant Arlene Goldbard held a workshop on cultural development Thursday with community members at the Lord Leebrick Theatre and led a discussion with Arts and Administration graduate students at Lawrence Hall on Friday.
Goldbard said a big part of cultural development is where the city puts its money. “When people think of cultural planning, they get images of agendas and a business-like, orderly process that involves direct beneficiaries in some way, like staff members of arts organizations,” Goldbard said. “The conception is pretty (limited).”
In Eugene, cultural development consists partly of funding for the Hult Center and free concerts at Alton Baker Park. Art brings out culture and culture brings us all together and in turn betters society, she said.
“What if cultural policy was as important as economic policy?” she said.
“What I’m encouraging people to do is to undertake (cultural development) work with a consciousness of higher purposes and larger implications,” Goldbard said. “So that they’re using what they know about people’s deep cultural values, what they know about our real social problems to inform every kind of planning, whether it’s for cultural development, housing, infrastructure or sustainable industry.”
Goldbard is currently on tour promoting her new book, “New Creative Community: The Art of Cultural Development,” which several schools are adopting as a textbook for the community arts field, she said.
Goldbard said her book can be used in academic or community settings for people who want to study how to be community artists or get involved in community cultural work.
“We’re living in a time of convergence: I’m you, and you’re me – we’re connected,” Goldbard said. “What is your vision of transformation in your community?”
From the workshop, arts management graduate student Sterling Israel said that Goldbard reflected current “holistic, positive thinking” in different fields about how the arts can help build better societies and better neighborhoods.
“I liked the idea that human culture is the world’s largest organism, but I feel like that is going to take some time to absorb,” Israel said.
Goldbard’s discussion focused more on education than the workshop, where she discussed issues surrounding non-profit and arts management with graduate students in the Arts and Administration Program.
Israel said that Goldbard helped her realize that she wanted a job where her role is “clearly defined,” in which she could follow certain steps to get recognition and gratitude from coworkers. Much of Goldbard’s advice could be transferred to personal life and relationships as well as career goals, Israel said.
“Arlene is really easy to talk with; she’s really knowledgeable,” Israel said. “She would have an answer to your questions about the community arts and non-profit organizations.”