Work break. Sort of.

Words I would like never to have to respond to again, in current order of loathing: "economic vitality," "diversity/inclusivity," "the underserved," "takeaways," "deliverables."

I am not at all opposed to the concepts underlying these terms. (For example, the arts do contribute economically to their communities.) I am, however, hugely opposed to the idea that in order to merit funding as a performing artist, I must somehow discern and then provide to funders information on the ethnicity, sexual orientation, and income level of every audience member I attract. I am even more opposed to the idea that art deserves funding only when people with certain targeted characteristics (whatever they are) encounter it.

I am truly in favor of finding ways to increase accessibility to the arts, but audience demographics are not a path TO artistic excellence. It works the other way around: if I make truly great art, more people of all types will be interested in coming to see it. But it shouldn't be my job to determine if my audiences match your desired target characteristics.

My "deliverable" is a performance. Your "takeaway" requires you to show up and see my work and then make your own decision about its worth. That job can't be outsourced. Funders, please stop putting pressure on your grantees to run Gallup polls on every audience. Try seeing our work instead.

In case you can't tell, I hate grant final-reports season. Six down, two to go...end of rant.

So good.

The Medium Chill

This week the T-bird spent about 48 hours in the hospital. We're all still bouncing back in terms of work, housework, sleep, and general sociability. Good things have happened--he is home, he is on the mend, we are all breathing, we have friends in town visiting, and Miranda saw her first professional play at the Shakespeare Festival with me--but right now I'm still spending my last fifteen minutes of downtime on surfing the web.

And this article is about a philosophy too attractive not to contemplate. We have already integrated parts of it into our lives, but haven't articulated it this thoroughly in explicit terms.

So much is happening at all kinds of levels that I need to process. Our archbishop is changing archdioceses--that will be a big deal around here depending on his replacement, and will mean interesting things ahead for Philly where I used to live. I've got an essay on the Tea Party and religion in America due in a few weeks. I'm taking an intensive French-for-scholarly-reading class that is kicking my butt in terms of homework and comprehension, and I'm trying to decide how best to pursue learning to speak and listen to it once this class is over. LiveMocha has been recommended by a few friends so I will look into that and Rosetta Stone.

It's because I have too much too say that it's probably better for me to take a break until my mind quiets down enough to focus on a single topic. But do check out the article, and comment if you like it.