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Dear folks:

Glad to have to opportunity to be involved ... my responses follow.

John

Dr. John Antoine Labadie
Asst. Prof. of Art
Pembroke State University of the Universities of North Carolina


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> AN ONLINE DISCUSSION OF THE TENTH NATIONAL NAAO CONFERENCE


> 1.A.  How can artists and arts organizations best meet the
> challenges of funding cutbacks and an increasingly hostile
> political climate?

By regaining a sense of necessary flexability in how funds are
obtained ... that is to say widening the range of "who" is
approached.  The traditional support mechanisms and organizations in
the arts are diminished and seem even to be disappearing.  We in the
arts NEED to see new ways to get through the maze that is grant-
seeking and fund-finding.  Perhaps regional brainstorming sessions of
arts councils that include more than just arts council folks would be
useful.  Perhaps more online/virtual conferencing would produce some
new thinking as well.


> 1.B. Are there examples that you know of in which individuals or
> groups are meeting this challenge?

In our area of North Carolina the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Arts
Council (Libby Seymour and Anita Woods in particular) seem to do a
fine job.  Also Mary Campbell Zopff(sp?) of the Ohio Arts Council
seems to be quite creative and successful in solving the problem of
who has what and how can support be located.


> 2.A.  How can artists and arts organizations work with other
> community activists to address some of the pressing social and
> economic problems of our time?

Dialogue is key here.  But little dialogue can occur is the primary
parties do not know of each other or cannot easily or inexpensively
contact each other.  I would suggest putting the InterNet to use
here.  Get (and keep) some expert assistance in developing Listserves,
homepages, and other interactive _locations_ on the Net.  Getting the
word out and putting people in contact with the necessary
technologies are corollary concerns.


> 2.B. Are there individuals or groups that you know of who are
> currently working in this area?

Not that I can tell you about at this time.  But I imagine it's just
a thing where I have not tried to make these sorts of connections.


> 3.A.  What needs to be done to ensure there will be lanes for
> community engagement, creative expression, and democratic values
> on the so-called Information Superhighway?

The Net is not a democracy.  It is basically an anarchy.  Techo-
terrorists are a reality.  Babble and obscentiy and baltant
commercialism are widespread.  Spamming and unwated posts litter my
email lists each day.  At this time it is my belief ... indeed my
expereince ... that no one is in control on the "Information
Superhighway."  But perception of control (or lack of it) that also
depends on how this term or technology is defined.  Yes ... one can
control a homepage ot listserve.  One can control programmed flow on
the Net.  But one of the wonders of the Net is not in how much
information can be crammed into fiber optic connections by the
technological "haves" ... but what can be accomplished by the
technological "have nots" and hackers.  The Net will be expressive ...
but not democratic.


> 3.B. Where, amidst the growing commercialism of the Net today, do
> you find these values right now?

Generally I find such positive values exemplified among serious
folks who see virtual communication as a way of increasing
productivity and decreasing various sorts of of costs associated with
the structured exchange of ideas.  As both an academic and an working
artist I am able move both these roles forward into global
connectivity with others in my areas of interest and work through
daily expanding my uses of elctronic technologies associated with
digital imaging and InterNet communication of various types.


> 4.  What are some of the options--beyond the standard institutional model
> of hierarchical management and endless fundraising--that arts
> organizations might explore?  Do you know of individuals or groups that
> have come up with viable alternatives to the standard nonprofit model?

This is an area I'm still exploring ... as a novice.  I'm in my second
year on the tenure track and also work out of the USA with field
archaeology projects.  In the field  my art work and academic
work is often connected with long-term projects that has NSF or
national funding through a government agency (National Park Service,
Program for Belize).  In academia much is still a mystery with
respect for funding.  The status of funding for the arts is not
inspirational.


> 5.  What can artists and arts organizations do to combat both the
> AIDS epidemic and the ignorance surrounding it?  Can you cite any
> existing programs or projects that have been particularly effective
> in this regard?

IMHO it seems that much has already been done or is in process to
enhance public awareness of this plague.  Certainly more needs to be
done.  What?  I draw a blank.  I know of no one personally who is
particularly effective or innovative in addressing this difficult
subject.


> 6.  How can individuals and organizations develop programs within specific
> communities that help bridge some of the gaps--economic, social, and
> cultural--that divide people from one another.  Do you know of any
> existing projects that are successful in this regard.


Above I've referenced a couple of organizations that I think do
consistently fine work.


> 7.  What do *you* think are the critical issues facing the arts as the
> twentieth century comes to a close?

1. The management of information about who is doing what and how they
got it done ... are getting it done.

2. Getting wired ... getting technology to everybody so we can
communicate about what we believe to be important.

3. Keeping channels of communication open within the arts community
... not the "project" mentality that has a X number of months
attached.  We either will or will not communicate with each other.
If we are to communicate the means and methods of communication must
be seen as primary concerns ... what we communcate about is
secondary to our ability to have the discussion.

Thanks for the opportunity to participate.

JAL