John Vanausdall is president and CEO of the Eiteljorg Museum.
Leadership is leadership. In my mind it doesn't matter if we are speaking of leadership in the for-profit arena, government or the world of arts and culture, creativity and vision from our leaders is even more of a requirement in troubled economic times like these. Pragmatism and focus in leadership are also necessary in order to get things done, but without a road map based on creative solutions coupled with a clear vision for the desired future state, tactical decisions made to solve immediate needs may ultimately perpetuate the very problems needing to be solved. Our community faces funding dilemmas for both sports and arts strategies. To dismiss the arts, culture and entertainment industry as secondary or non-essential ignores the future well being of our city. The arts, humanities and entertainment, if looked at objectively, are equally important as other strategies for addressing economic development, educational issues and quality of life in Indianapolis. The creative and visionary solution is to combine sports and arts and culture into a single funding strategy and address them as one. This blended strategy has greater potential to create a broad-minded city rather than a single-minded one, a city that will attract a diverse number of corporations and a broader, more talented work force, and an enhanced quality of life that appeals to a more diverse citizenry. And, I would argue, this is the most practical solution as well because far more people will get behind a broad strategy than one with a single focus.
Leadership is leadership. In my mind it doesn't matter if we are speaking of leadership in the for-profit arena, government or the world of arts and culture, creativity and vision from our leaders is even more of a requirement in troubled economic times like these. Pragmatism and focus in leadership are also necessary in order to get things done, but without a road map based on creative solutions coupled with a clear vision for the desired future state, tactical decisions made to solve immediate needs may ultimately perpetuate the very problems needing to be solved. Our community faces funding dilemmas for both sports and arts strategies. To dismiss the arts, culture and entertainment industry as secondary or non-essential ignores the future well being of our city. The arts, humanities and entertainment, if looked at objectively, are equally important as other strategies for addressing economic development, educational issues and quality of life in Indianapolis. The creative and visionary solution is to combine sports and arts and culture into a single funding strategy and address them as one. This blended strategy has greater potential to create a broad-minded city rather than a single-minded one, a city that will attract a diverse number of corporations and a broader, more talented work force, and an enhanced quality of life that appeals to a more diverse citizenry. And, I would argue, this is the most practical solution as well because far more people will get behind a broad strategy than one with a single focus.
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