Arlene Goldbard to discuss public interest in art
Arlene Goldbard shines a light on the immense appeal of art to a community in a lecture entitled, “Hiding in Plain Sight: Unmasking the Public Interest in Art.” This event, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Thursday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. at the Lyric Theatre.
According to Goldbard, “art cultivates empathy and imagination, sustaining resilience and strengthening social fabric. But far too often, the conventional view dismisses it as a frill.” Goldbard urges her audience to embrace the full potential of art to nurture civil society.
Goldbard is a writer, speaker, social activist, and consultant who works for justice, compassion, and honor in every sphere, from the interpersonal to the transnational. Known for her works in community cultural development, Goldbard uses personal stories, detailed observation, and histories to describe how communities express and develop themselves via the creative arts. Her books include “Crossroads: Reflections on the Politics of Culture”; “New Creative Community: The Art of Cultural Development”; “Community, Culture and Globalization”; and her novel “Clarity.” Her essays have appeared in such journals as Art in America, The Independent, Theatre, High Performance, and Tikkun.
Goldbard has addressed many academic and community audiences in the United States and Europe, on topics ranging from the ethics of community arts practice to the development of integral organizations. She has provided advice and counsel to hundreds of community-based organizations, independent media groups, and public and private funders and policymakers including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Independent Television Service, Appalshop, and dozens of others. She is currently writing a new book on art’s public purpose. She serves as President of the Board of Directors of The Shalom Center.
This event is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences’ Office of the Dean; Center for the Arts; College of Architecture and Urban Studies; Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology; and the Institute for Society, Culture and Environment.
