We want to thank the 140+ executive directors of cultural organizations who gathered with us at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium on March 27. This was the second year that the Utah Division of Arts & Museums hosted this curated gathering. Highlights of this successful event include great networking and a standout presentation by Kelly Barsdate, executive advisor at the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. The gathering offered opportunities to address challenges facing Utah’s cultural community. Discussions centered on organizational resiliency, emphasizing the importance of transparency with staff to foster problem-solving, the need for increased fundraising to offset funding cuts, and strategies for staff well-being (modeling self-care, writing resiliency plans, and establishing clear workload boundaries). Additional key takeaways included the importance of community, art’s role in caring and healing, and the critical nature of transparency and donor education for sustainable funding.
The NASAA studies presented by Kelly Barsdate highlighted specific advocacy messaging that leads to success. The research shows that when messages focus on our role in military and veteran recovery, celebrating America’s 250th birthday, and contributing to good health, there was increased net favorability for federal cultural support from 37% to 53%. This research confirms the public’s high regard for the role of the arts in education, preserving heritage, and supporting a creative workforce. Some highlights were these comments from Kelly: “Outrage is easy. Chess is hard. Focus on the chess” and “Flip the script and talk about what you give, rather than leading with what you need. The arts and museums gift our community with benefits to our economy, education, health, heritage, and community.”
We appreciate Loveland Living Planet Aquarium for hosting the event this year in their beautiful new event center, which features a shark tank! If you’ve ever heard that performing with children is difficult, try speaking in front of a feeding zebra shark. Aquarium founder and CEO Brent Andersen gave a thoughtful and inspiring presentation noting that “becoming” the vision made the aquarium happen. This shift in mindset allowed the aquarium to achieve its growth and success.
Other thoughtful phrases from the day:
How might we?
It is about community and bringing people together.
Everything is OK! We got this!
What is the story you want to look back and tell?
Are you building bridges?
Are you looking for future trends?
Let go of what you cannot win.
You are not your job.
Remember to take people along as you climb the mountain.
Give directions and trust others.
You are rocking this!
Lead with love. Remember you have everything you need.
Engage! Lift! Lead!
Special thanks to all the presenters:
- Donna Law, executive director, Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement
- Kelly Barsdate, executive advisor, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
- Annie DiMartino, executive director, Utah Cultural Alliance
- Brent Andersen, CEO and founder, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
- James Peterson, president and board chairman, Wendover Historic Airfield
- Michael Bahr, executive managing director, Utah Shakespeare Festival
- Wendi Hassan, executive director, CacheARTS
Thanks to Jake McIntire of Union Creative for facilitating the gathering, and Tracy Hansford, our agency’s community programs coordinator, for organizing the event.
