Fuzzy Concepts, Proxy Data: Why Indicators Won’t Track Creative Placemaking Success

One of creative placemaking’s original champions explains why she can’t get behind the field’s latest measurement efforts.

Around the horn: Frankenstorm edition

ART AND THE GOVERNMENT Two bills under consideration by Congress would adjust the music licensing rates paid by internet streaming radio services like Rdio, MOG, and Spotify to match what cable and satellite providers pay. IN THE FIELD Artists often neglect to realize that crowdfunding campaign money isn’t free – in addition to the fees youRead More

Artificial Intelligence and the Arts

It’s not just Her: more and more, computers’ creative capabilities are rivaling those of humans.

Around the horn: Tampa/Charlotte/Chris Stevens/47% edition

It’s been a while! ART AND THE GOVERNMENT Bob Lynch reports out on the recent activities of the US Travel & Tourism Advisory Board. Americans for the Arts was out in force at the Republican national convention, organizing a panel with a Mesa mayor who skipped his own election to be there (he was runningRead More

“Discovering Fiscally Sponsored NYC Dancemakers”

That’s the title of a new study published this month by Dance/NYC and produced by yours truly, with (lots of) help from Fractured Atlas Research Fellow Carrie Blake and Dance/NYC Director Lane Harwell. The study examines data from over 250 dance-related projects fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas, The Foundation for Independent Artists/Pentacle, New York Foundation forRead More

Burning Man is Dead; Long Live Burning Man

Can Burning Man go mainstream with its values intact? The answer lies in the strength of the burner diaspora.

The Art of “Having it All”

An exploration of the challenges and rewards mothers face in balancing work, family, and a creative life.

Around the horn: Chick-Fil-A edition

Reminder: the last day to apply for the Createquity Writing Fellowship is today! ART AND THE GOVERNMENT Congratulations to the South Carolina Arts Commission, whose funding was preserved when elected representatives overrode Governor Nikki Haley’s veto of the commission’s entire budget. An additional veto that would have invalidated a one-time $500,000 increase for the commission wasRead More

Around the horn: Highly Efffective edition

IN THE FIELD RIP Artnet Magazine; more here. I will always be grateful to Artnet’s Ben Davis for being just about the only arts journalist worth his salt during the whole Yosi Sergant debacle. Congratulations to GiveWell, which has announced a not-quite-merger with Good Ventures, an emerging foundation led by Cari Tuna and Dustin Moskovitz (the latter is one of theRead More

Richard Florida Redux and the Creative Placemaking Backlash

Richard Florida is all over the news again with the release of an updated, 10th-anniversary edition of his most famous book, The Rise of the Creative Class. I’m convinced that someone, someday is going to write a fantastic biography of Richard Florida. He’s such a fascinating figure: the symbol of a decidedly 21st-century concept of urbanismRead More