Stories for Change: Leadership Examples of Expanding the Arts To
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Stories Funded by for Change Leadership Examples of Expanding the Arts to New Audiences • 1 1429 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 www.livable.org About MetLife Foundation MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife’s longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Our commitment to building a secure future for individuals and communities worldwide is reflected in our dedication to empowering older adults, preparing young people and building livable communities. Since it was established, MetLife Foundation has provided more than $530 million in grants to nonprofit organizations addressing issues that have a positive impact in their communities. For more information visit www.metlife.org Copyright © 2012 About Partners for Livable Communities Partners for Livable Communities Partners for Livable Communities is a non-profit Cover Lydia Wei and Dina Paisner of Dances for a Variable leadership organization working to improve the livability Population of communities by promoting quality of life, economic “Autumn Crossing on the High Line” development, and social equity. Since its founding in Courtesy of Dances for a Variable Population and 1977, Partners has helped communities set a common Photographer Meg Goldman. vision for the future, discover and use new resources Back Cover for community and economic development, and build Students learn dignity and confidence when their artwork is public/private coalitions to further their goals. For more professionally displayed in Manchester Bidwell Corporation’s gallery. information visit www.livable.org Courtesy of Manchester Bidwell Corporation. 2 • Stories for Change Stories for Leadership Examples Change of Expanding the Arts to New Audiences A Report from Funded by • 1 “Change is the only constant in this era. New audience change will come from two major forces: the AGING of America’s population and NEWCOMERS to our country who can enrich our economic and civic lives. Are you ready for these consumers?” —Robert H. McNulty, President and CEO of Partners for Livable Communities Acknowledgments Many individuals helped to make this report complete. Partners especially wants to thank Liz Bieber for compiling and writing much of the report, Brian Miller and Will Cooper for writing many of the Best Practices for the report, Jane King for editing the report, and Jessica Scheuerman for designing the report. Partners’ leadership of Robert McNulty and Penny Cuff gave direction and insight based on their many years of experience. Partners wants to thank the many leaders in arts organizations, foundations, city staffs, and others who gave generously of their time through interviews, conversations and critical thinking. Finally, Partners thanks MetLife Foundation, which understood the value of this report and its contents. 2 • Stories for Change Contents Foreward • 5 Spotlight • 7 Introduction • 9 How to Use This Publication • 11 Best Practices Area Agency on Aging Dance Company Philadelphia Corporation on Aging: Generation Dances For A Variable Population • 42 Appreciation Philadelphia • 12 Deeply Rooted Dance Theater • 44 Ollimpaxqui Ballet Company • 46 Athletics Program Good Life Games of Pinellas County, Florida • 14 Department Store OASIS • 48 Botanic Garden The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens • 16 Elementary School Queens Botanical Garden • 18 Intergenerational Programs in Rochester Public Schools • 50 Bureau of Transportation Portland Bureau of Transportation • 20 Faith-Based Organization LIVE (Lifelong Involvement for Vital Elders) • 52 Chorus Young at Heart Chorus • 22 Historic Preservation Cornerstones Community Partnerships • 54 Community Arts Organization Elders Share the Arts • 24 Historical Society Indo-American Center • 26 Norwood Park Historical Society • 56 Manchester Bidwell Corporation • 28 Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana • 30 Local Government Seniors Making Art • 32 Pathways to Positive Aging • 58 Sarasota County Openly Plans for Excellence Community Development Corporation (SCOPE) • 60 Casa Familiar • 34 International Sonoran Desert Alliance • 36 Museum Arizona Science Center • 62 Community Garden Habitot Children’s Museum • 64 Nuestras Raíces • 38 The Museum of Modern Art • 66 Queens Museum of Art • 68 Council on Aging The Wartburg Council for Creative Aging • 40 Best ContentsPractices • 3 Nonprofit Organization Index Circle of Care • 70 Elders in Action • 74 Best Practices indexed by population served: Lifetime Arts • 76 Immigrants • 110 The Massachusetts Elder Arts Initiative • 78 Older Adults • 110 Stone Soup Fresno • 80 Other • 110 Opera Notes • 111 Houston Grand Opera: HGOco • 82 Orchestra The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha • 86 Parks and Recreation The San José Department of Parks, Recreation, & Neighborhood Services • 88 Performing Arts Center Patel Conservatory at the Straz Performing Arts Center • 90 Public Park Hua Mei Bird Garden • 92 Service Provider The Artists Collective • 94 CJE SeniorLife • 96 Upwardly Global • 98 Theater ASU Gammage • 100 Cornerstone Theater Company • 102 University Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, Inc. • 104 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes • 106 Project SHINE (Students Helping in the Naturalization of Elders) • 108 4 • Stories for Change Foreward artners for Livable Communities, As the mayor of Chattanooga, I recognize with the support of MetLife that arts and culture are significant PFoundation, has engaged in drivers for community and economic groundbreaking work that demonstrates development, and for the livability of my that arts and culture are as essential to community. In this compelling collection sustaining communities as bricks and of Stories for Change, you will find that mortar. For those who are new to the Partners has showcased programs and mores and language of this country, or strategies that can make arts and culture a for those who are older, barriers too often tool for change and a community asset that prevent participation in arts and cultural enable immigrant and older populations— activities. To widely circulate notable and everyone—to thrive. n ideas that increase access for older and immigrant populations to the arts and culture, Partners issued Culture Connects All: Rethinking Audiences in Times of Cultural Change in 2010. Culture Connects All describes innovative programs of arts organizations in six major American cities that have greatly expanded their reach to older adults and immigrants. The Honorable Ron Littlefield Stories for Change broadens this scope Mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee to encompass nearly 50 arts and cultural Chairman of the Board, Partners for best practices that have originated in Livable Communities communities, both large and small, across the country. This publication is brimming with ideas, brought to fruition by varied types of organizations, that have enhanced the availability of arts and culture for the burgeoning numbers of immigrants and older adults in our communities. These best practices report the innovations of museums, libraries, theaters, orchestras, dance ensembles, parks, botanic gardens, universities, and the many other organizations now grappling with changing demographics. Those who hope to enhance the lives of their older and immigrant residents can find approaches portrayed in these Stories that can be adapted to meet the needs of communities of any size. BestForeward Practices • 5 As new refugees with a dream for their children to succeed in America, the Yangs adapted quickly. Parents are strong supporters of their children’s early education. The youngest ones completed Stone Soup’s Early Learning Academy and teen daughters are serving the community through projects in Girl Scouts. Courtesy of Stone Soup Fresno. See best practice on page 80. 6 • Stories for Change Spotlight pera tells stories through words and HGOco connects our company to our music. Every culture has a musical community through collaboration. Song of Ostorytelling tradition, providing the Houston: Home and Place offers a creative common ground on which HGOco builds ways to create and share the stories that new and lasting relationships with the create communities of Houston. communities we serve. HGOco is Houston Grand Opera’s unique initiative which Founded in 1955, Houston Grand creates opportunities for Houstonians Opera is an internationally renowned of all ages and backgrounds to observe, opera company with a reputation for participate in and create art. Since 2007, commissions and producing new works, HGOco has commissioned ten new works, including 45 world premieres and six including the world’s first Mariachi opera, American premieres since 1973. HGO Cruzar la Cara de la Luna / To Cross the contributes to the cultural enrichment Face of the Moon, along with countless of Houston and the nation through a innovative community projects, reaching diverse, innovative, and balanced program more than 750,000 people in the greater of performances, events, broadcasts, and Houston metropolitan area. community and education projects. n In 2011, HGOco was the only Texas Sandra Bernhard recipient of an ArtPlace grant to build Director of HGOco our Song of Houston programs that promote community-building through Kiana Day arts with Home and Place community collaborations. The strength of HGOco’s Home and Place Programs Director, work is based on our standing as a cultural Houston Grand Opera resource in the city of Houston and our collaborative partnerships with our communities to tell the stories of those who call Houston their