Making the Connection: Artists and Communities Symposium
by Jaclyn Reynolds

Artists connecting with their communities and the challenges they face is the focus of Making the Connection: Artists and Communities Symposium. The one day symposium will be held Saturday, October 13, 2007 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 31st floor of the Riffe Center in downtown Columbus.

Three concurrent sessions will be held in the morning and will be repeated in the afternoon. Participants may choose two of the three sessions that include:

OAC’s Artists and Communities Program: Lessons Learned - a panel discussion by Artists and Communities program grant recipients and the challenges, triumphs and lessons learned through their projects. Columbus-based media artist, Liv Gjestvang, Cleveland mixed media and installation artist Laila Voss, Columbus arts consultant Jackie Calderone and Cleveland artist Liz Maugans will serve on the panel.

Making the Connection: A Civic Perspective - a panel discussion about organization and government response to connecting communities through art experiences and with artists. Mark Folk, executive director of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Carol Patterson, Athens city council person and Augusto Bordelois, artist and art teacher will serve on the panel.

Connecting to Communities through Technology - a panel discussion about how individuals use the internet to develop communities, expand outreach, create work, promote work and advocate for the arts. Amy Youngs, artist and professor at OSU Art and Technology Department, Nick Szuberla, Appalshop Media artist and Andy Marko, media artist and staff producer in the Communication Department at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio will serve on the panel.

Nick Szuberla will also give the luncheon keynote address. In his work he focuses on creating public spaces where people can tell their story in their own voice. He uses a variety of mediums (live performance, radio, video and digital) and form (including a multimedia installation and database-drive Web site) in his projects.

Registration for this event is required. Cost is $20. Registration deadline is Friday, October 5, 2007. Register online today. Continental breakfast and box lunch are included in the cost of registration.

Click here for a conference agenda.

Click here for directions to the Riffe Center and parking information.

Click here for Making the Connection bios of presenters.

For more information about this event visit the OAC Web site at www.oac.state.oh.us.

The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.

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