Out Here in the Middle

Perspectives from the Heartland

Monday, October 22, 2:00pm – 3:15pm

Organized and moderated by Joe Randel, senior program officer, Walton Family Foundation.

Presented by Todd Stein, president and chief executive officer, Mid America Arts Alliance; John Brown III, executive director, Windgate Foundation; and Karen Minkel, home region program director, Walton Family Foundation.

As the nation increasingly recognizes the importance of voices from the Heartland, what does that mean for arts funders away from the coasts? Join a conversation with three funders working independently and collectively in the Heartland as they discuss distinctive models and approaches to supporting arts organizations and artists in the middle of the country. Panelists will engage in conversation around advances in arts education, efforts to support individual artists working far from traditional cultural hubs, and the challenges and opportunities of supporting diverse cultural perspectives within a predominantly white landscape. The panel will shed light on how key national conversations resonate and take shape in some lesser-known yet dynamic communities where the arts are thriving. This session is recommended for participants interested in expanding their understanding of the Heartland arts ecosystem, mythologies about “the middle,” and how arts funders are responding to rapidly changing demographics.