[echo] Can Art Matter?

[Bahari Ndogo]

Can Art Matter?
 
In a world of social crisis and looming ecological collapse, can art
be anything more than a frill?
 
Opening Space for Engaged Art Practices
 
What is your creative work? Does it matter? Does it express and
achieve what you want? Do you sense there could be more? Could you
accomplish more if you had the right partners, if you could find the
right people, if you had all the creative tools you need to become a
catalyst for change?
 
Please join us! ... as we open an online space for engaged art
practices to flourish. Come make new connections with other artists ­
people of vision, leadership, craft and opportunity. Give others the
chance to learn from your own efforts and projects. Find models,
mentors and mutual interests. Create Hubs, Nodes and Networks. Share
resources and stories. Make new friends and forge new alliances.
 
 
Register now for a free, 24-hour online conference on engaged art.
 
October 12, 2007
 
www.islandsinstitute.com/conference
 
 
The purpose is simple and important: to open an online space where we
can meet to foment a creative stew. We can co-create a space to argue
and learn how to make art that matters, art that connects with
communities, art that can change the world. Together we can foster
creative solutions to real-world problems, connect practitioners with
projects, and support, mentor and empower engaged art practices.
 
This online conference will occur in concert with the Vancouver, BC
conference Live in Public: The Art of Engagement . We will have access
to information, images and conversation from the face-to-face
gathering of artists working in the public realm. Participants in the
Vancouver conference will engage in dialogue with us, posting and
developing their ideas online. There will also be a link with the Open
Engagement Conference in Regina, Saskatchewan.
 
Register now ­ it's FREE and it's EASY!
Simply email director at islandsinstitute.com
 
What will happen?
 
Before the conference, participants are invited to introduce
themselves and their work, beginning a conversation that imagines what
we need and want from the online conference. We can create a book for
distribution to online and real-time conference participants,
introducing all who are registered, with information on their work.
 
On October 12, 2007 a facilitated online "Open Space" will be created
where, over 24 hours, we can engage in dialogue on the important
questions. Ideas and images from the Vancouver conference will be
posted as they are created.  At the conclusion of the day, each online
and real-time participant will receive a written record of the
discussions and recommendations generated by the conference.
 
After the conference, there will be an opportunity for ongoing
dialogue and networking online.