2019 Grantmakers in the Arts Conference: Cultural Intersections

in Denver, Colorado, USA

Produced With

Grantmakers in the Arts

Monday 14 October and Wednesday 16 October 2019

Grantmakers in the Arts presented the 2019 GIA Conference Cultural Intersections livestreaming from Denver, Colorado on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 14 October and Wednesday 16 October 2019.

Denver, Colorado is a perfect laboratory for important conversations around where the arts are going, how best to engage an increasingly diverse nation, and how to use a variety of forms of investment in culture all anchored in equity. Engage with your colleagues at the GIA Conference for an exciting opportunity to be inspired by the people and culture of Denver.

Monday 14 October

Funding Disability Aesthetics
2:40 p.m. - 4 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 3:40 p.m. - 5 p.m. MDT (Denver, UTC-6) / 5:40 p.m. - 7 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

Organized by Esther Grimm, executive director, 3Arts; and Lane Harwell, program officer, Ford Foundation.

Presented by Carrie Sandahl, associate professor, Bodies of Work and University of Illinois at Chicago; Reveca Torres, executive director, Backbones; and Regan Linton, artistic director, Phamaly Theatre Company.

Embedded in the longstanding practices of philanthropy are age-old assumptions about artistic excellence, technical acumen, and quality that do not always consider variance and the variations of bodies, voices, and perspectives that counter traditional ideals. These variations can breathe new life into old themes and question the structures of art forms. After an interactive opener, three artists who are shaking it up in their disciplines will discuss the groundbreaking power of disability aesthetics, and how funders can be good partners in the work.

Wednesday 16 October

Motus Theater's performance of JustUs
9 a.m. - 9:35 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 10 a.m. - 10:35 a.m. MDT (Denver, UTC-6) / 12 p.m. - 12:35 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4)

JustUs is an autobiographical monologue performance created in a 16-week collaborative process between Motus Theater’s Artistic Director, Kirsten Wilson, and formerly incarcerated individuals about their experience with the criminal justice system. The performance presents impactful depictions of the consequences of incarceration (both behind bars and beyond) with the goal of engaging audiences in the injustice and violence being done in the name of justice. Collaborators include: Juaquin Mobely, Brandon Wainright, Astro Allison, Brian Lynch, Daniel Guillory, Cierra Brock, and Dereck Bell.

JustUs premiered at the 2019 National Association of Community and Restorative Justice Conference in Denver, with some of the stories being read by law enforcement, the Denver and Boulder District Attorneys, and Legislators of the Colorado General Assembly. 1,600 people attended this performance.

For the Grantmakers in the Arts 2019 Conference, Motus presents a special version of this performance in which grantmaking leaders will step into the shoes of a formerly incarcerated autobiographical monologist by reading their stories and holding their weight.

Motus Theater’s mission is to create original theater to facilitate dialogue on critical issues of our time. We aim to use the power of art to build alliances across diverse segments of our community. Motus focuses on bringing marginalized voices or silenced histories to the stage. We support inclusion by expanding our audiences’ experiences of the variety of stories that make up our country. By using theater to learn and listen across the gaps of difference we weave tighter, stronger and more connected communities. Learn more about Motus Theater at www.motustheater.org

About HowlRound TV

HowlRound TV is a global, commons-based peer produced, open access livestreaming and video archive project stewarded by the nonprofit HowlRound. HowlRound TV is a free and shared resource for live conversations and performances relevant to the world's performing arts and cultural fields. Its mission is to break geographic isolation, promote resource sharing, and to develop our knowledge commons collectively. Participate in a community of peer organizations revolutionizing the flow of information, knowledge, and access in our field by becoming a producer and co-producing with us. Learn more by going to our participate page. For any other queries, email [email protected], or call Vijay Mathew at +1 917.686.3185 Signal/WhatsApp. View the video archive of past events.

Find all of our upcoming events here.

Upcoming Events

Comments

Add Comment

The article is just the start of the conversation—we want to know what you think about this subject, too! HowlRound is a space for knowledge-sharing, and we welcome spirited, thoughtful, and on-topic dialogue. Find our full comments policy here

Newest First