Posted on August 11, 2013
New Financial Architectures for Creative Communities (NFACC) Edgar Arceneaux August 10, 2013 12:45-1:45pm Armory Center for the Arts 145 North Raymond Avenue Pasadena (626) 792-5101 Summary of NFACC research goals My larger intentions with this research is continue formulating questions based on my interviews with artists across the United States for the CAA conference in Feb 2014. The workshop there will be set up along these lines: Individuals working in groups for a concentrated period of time analyzing a set of key questions. Group think towards common issues affecting the environment of the creative community today. The exact questions will be formulated through a year of research amongst creative communities across America. 1st Stage Research period Jan 2013-Feb 2014. Background For more then 15 years, I have maintained a vibrant and active art career, showing and lecturing internationally and at the same time Co-founded the organization Watts House Project, an innovative nonprofit arts organization that brought artists, architects and families together in a collaborative effort to transform the homes of their neighborhood surrounding the Watts Towers. In the process, I have come to understand the unique challenges of being an artist and art student today and have spent several years researching the economics of being an arts professional in America. What if there was a way for artists to foresee the best paths for their life, practice and career before they ever began art school or before they graduate? I believe there is a way to create a collection of terms and principles that the creative community could use to understand the implications of the broad spectrum of factors effecting their practice and career environment today. I believe this research can reveal a path to a more just and equitable financial architecture that reflects the collective aims and values of today creative community. In determining artists temperament and values in this ecosystem will enable us to operate fully aware of the systems affect on the content of our work. Its an expanded discussion, beyond that of market forces, backed by real examples of new financial architectures that must be an integral part of todays discourse on art and life.