Michael Kaiser... and the Simpsons?

I watched the season premiere of the Simpsons this past Sunday night.  I like the Simpsons and think that for all of their alleged vulgarity they present witty messages that hit the core of many social issues that North America deals with.  This particular episode dealt with the local clown celebrity initially winning the noble peace prize as a lure Europe so they could charge him for his many crimes committed against them.  Lisa the daughter of the Simpson family got a chance to go to a performing arts camp where she got to explore her artistic abilities.  When she returns home she realizes that there is no support or proper funding for her as a blooming artist in her school or city.  I read this episode as a comment on the current Artistic plight in America today.  Mass entertainment being easily accessible but not necessarily always giving back to society, versus the small refined arts sector that wants to give back to society in a positive way but cannot find the means not audience to do so. For me the issue not addressed was... Why are the arts not recognized and consumed more?  Which leads me to Michael Kaiser.  In a world of dying arts organization he is able to turn them around and give them a strong appeal.  The Simpsons raised the awareness of the dying arts but could do nothing about it. 

For this reason...

I cannot stop thinking about Michael Kaiser!  After watching a video clip of Michael Kaiser speak about effective institutional marketing (creating buzz about your institution), the somewhat sad plight of the future of arts became a tad sunnier.   Kaiser's main point was to be risk takers in a risky arts climate.  To be daring with the art that your institution does and constantly offer new and sexy programming for your arts consumers.  More importantly Kaiser seeks to spend equal amount of time and energy on the effective and aggressive marketing of these arts projects.  He recognized that often times organizations would immediately cut the funding to both the development of new art and marketing as soon as the organization faces crisis.  His point is: the only way to overcome the crisis is to become better and take more risks.  These risks of course are not silly whims.  Kaiser constantly continues to take advantage of situations and promote bigger and better each time.  He seeks to create ways to build real visibility that do not relate to the base product- but gets people excited about the organization.  In this respect he has been able to turn around many dying arts organizations and make them exciting again.  When people are engaged and interested the desire to donate money and time will come.


Check out Michael Kaisers Speech on Marketing and the Arts:
http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/473/

Spoken Word

This past weekend I had the opportunity (for the second time) to see one of Canada's foremost spoken word poets at the London Music Club.  This is the second time he has been invited to London as the feature poet for the local Poetry Slam group.  CR Avery isn't only a poet; he combines multiple artistic disciplines to create a sound and feeling that is very unique.  In addition to his unique sound he speaks to many Canadian issues. In a country like Canada where culture often seems lost or disconnected it's important to foster and hold onto our Canadian-minded artists.   CR is an example of the kind of artist we, as an arts community and as Canadians, need to promote and appreciate as part of our cultural landscape.  The whole art of spoken word is still somewhat underground in the arts community but it has the potential to engage and captivate the Canadian psyche.  This past year at the 2010 Olympics the opening ceremonies featured another young Canadian spoken word artist, Shayne Koyczan, who shared his vision of Canada.   People are starting to listen to the voice of young Canadian artists but it's not enough.  Our support for these artists’s and for Canada need to be more fully supported and realized. 

CR Avery will be returning to London this November 10th at the LMC.  Please go and check out his work and share with your friends this amazing Canadian artist. 

Click on the links below to get a sense of CR'swork: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oGT1Op_NF8
http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/cod/concerts/20100206avery
http://www.cravery.com/