Private Sector News Roundup–March 2017
A program of the Private Sector Network at Americans for the Arts
 
Arts Mobilization Center
Americans for the Arts recently launched its new Arts Mobilization Center, the central location where members will find our messages from the President and recent statements on timely political activity, action items, and news articles of interest. We will continue to build this hub of information and want to be sure you are aware of it as a central resource.
 
CREATE Act Update
On March 21, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and U.S. Senator Tom Udall (NM) introduced a bill to boost the creative economy and support the development of jobs and arts businesses in Michigan, New Mexico and across the nation. Understanding the importance of the arts to successful businesses and state economies, Dingell and Udall’s bill–the Comprehensive Resources for Entrepreneurs in the Arts to Transform the Economy (CREATE) Act–would support artists, entrepreneurs, and workers in growing their businesses, accessing federal resources and funding, and expanding their networks with local communities. Read more. 
 
From the Field
Do you have a great program, idea, or success you’d like to share with your peers and the broader arts sector? We’ve got a solution for you! Write a piece for ARTSblog, your go-to resource for the latest perspectives on everything in the arts field. It serves as not only a source of valued information and professional development, but also a home for important discussions. We’re on the hunt for great arts and business stories, and if you’ve got one to share, I encourage you reach out to me for more details on writing a piece for ARTSblog. We typically look for posts around 800 words, and stories andvideos are always welcome. I hope you’ll share your story!
 
Lisa Scails, the executive director of the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut, was elected to the Private Sector Council last fall. Connecticut Magazine recently chatted with her about the value of the arts, her role in advocacy, and she learned best tactics and approaches from her previous career as a civil rights leader. Read more. 
 
Colorado Business Committee for the Arts recently held its 30th annual Business of the Arts Awards luncheon at the Seawell Ballroom Wednesday, an event that drew about 700 arts, business and civic leaders throughout Colorado. The event was the first major program overseen by the organization’s new executive director, Christin Crampton Day. Read more. 
 
New Private Sector Council member–Kristina Newman-Scott, Director of Culture for the State of Connecticut’s Department of Economic & Community Development–recently joined WNPR for a radio segment on the value and future of arts funding. Listen here. 
 
Casey Gill Summar, executive director of Nashville's Arts & Business Council's and a member of the Private Sector Council, has announced that she will be leaving the arts nonprofit this summer after more than a decade with the organization. She and her husband, Trent, are moving to Santa Barbara, California in June. Read more. 
 
One Poem At A Time–a new public health policy initiative of IDEAS xLab and Creative Agents of Change Foundation–replaces negative and predatory advertising and billboards in Louisville’s Smoketown neighborhood with positive photographs and poetry depicting Smoketown community members and lifting up their voices. Read more. 
 
News Roundup
Last week, Americans for the Arts mourned the loss of philanthropist David Rockefeller, who died at age 101. Rockefeller was a profound influence and great friend to Americans for the Arts. In 1966, he helped found the Business Committee for the Arts when he gave a now-famous speech to The Conference Board with the goal of increasing business support for the arts. Since 2004, the BCA has annually recognized 10 outstanding businesses that exemplify support of and partnership with the arts through Americans for the Arts’ BCA 10 Awards. Read more. 
 
Check out Intel’s collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company to produce a two-year, tech-heavy production of the The Tempest in honor of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Watch here.
 
Jon Darsee, Executive Vice President of Health Policy and Payer Relations for iRhythm Technologies, Inc. (a privately held digital healthcare solutions company that works in cardiac arrhythmia information) suggests that “one way to facilitate out-of-the-box thinking is by viewing art.” Read more. 
 
Madison Cario, Georgia Tech’s Office of the Arts director, was walking across campus in the Spring of 2015 when she passed a career fair in progress. After noticing how uncomfortable the students looked in their business suits and corporate attire, Cario’s mind flashed to Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. The 40-year-old, all-male, contemporary ballet company — featuring men wearing makeup, tutus and wigs while dancing on pointe — was scheduled to perform at the Ferst Center in the coming weeks. Who better, thought Cario, than performers who’d perfected the art of drag to teach millennials how to transition from uniforms of hoodies and flip-flops into young professionals whose wardrobes reflected their career aspirations. Read more. 

Graffiti USA, a nationwide collective of professional graffiti and street artists who specialize in corporate office murals as well as live art for events, commercial and residential murals, and interactive art, recently worked with E.&J. Gallo Winery on a corporate workshop and team building event for their sales teams in New York, Hoboken, Chicago, and Boston. Read more. 

In the pARTnership Movement’s latest success story, we look at Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Badger Meter, an innovator in flow measurement and control products, serving water utilities, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers worldwide. At its headquarters, Badger Meter features a collection of iconic and carefully curated artwork. Read more. 

This Spring, tech giant Samsung will debut a new TV known as The Frame, a flatscreen that can camouflage itself as a piece of art when not in use. Dave Das, SVP Consumer Electronics Marketing for Samsung Electronics America says, “The Frame empowers you to think about TV in a new way, bringing art and entertainment into new parts of your home.” Read more.
 
Supported by the Volkswagon Group of America, the Museum of Modern Art Expands its online course offerings to focus n the materials and techniques of postwar abstract painting. Read more. 
 
Michelle Burke, a team and workplace specialist, recently shared insights on Huffington Post from the founder of the National Institute for Play: “not only does having a playful atmosphere [in the workplace] attract young talent, but experts say play at work can boost creativity and productivity in people of all ages. There is good evidence that if you allow employees to engage in something they want to do, (which) is playful, there are better outcomes in terms of productivity and motivation.” Read more. 

BCA 10 honoree Classical Movements is driven by a love for music and the performing arts. In January 2016, Classical Movements released a call for choral luminaries to go on retreat in India. In January 2017, Classical Movements has officially launched the India Choral Fellowship (ICF), featuring award-winning singer, conductor and educator Kevin Fox as its inaugural recipient. The goal of ICF is to help inspire future Indian musicians blend with the ancient traditions and forge a new horizon for classical music in India. Read more.