Fifteen Years in the Life of an Idea

Tuesday, October 14, 9:50am – 10:50am

Organized and moderated by Ruby Lerner, President & Executive Director, Creative Capital.

Presented by Jane Brown, President & Executive Director, Robert W. Deutsch Foundation; Hasan Elahi, Creative Capital Artist; Associate Professor of Art, University of Maryland; and Arlynn Fishbaugh, Executive Director, Montana Arts Council.

Creative Capital was founded as an experiment to rethink traditional philanthropy, borrowing venture capital approaches to invest in artists as cultural entrepreneurs. Now, 15 years later, we are asking ourselves what it means to support 21st-century artists and artistic communities, and how our institutions and support mechanisms need to evolve as artists’ practices change. We will explore this question by looking at groundbreaking artists who have built successful careers across varied media and sectors, organizations that have catalyzed local artist communities, and philanthropists who have used the arts as a lens for economic redevelopment. In addition to addressing lessons our panel has learned, we will ask you to share experiences supporting the changing landscapes of your own communities.