I wasn’t planning on writing a post today, but an article made me do it! This is a perfect continuation of the conversation from yesterday.

Using puppets to break down barriers between people and languages via the Knight Arts posting.

These particular segments had me thinking:

Is part of the work when creating relationships with community partners about letting them ask themselves questions?
I think a very great and important part of what I’ve learned in doing this community work is to listen more. We need to make sure there’s a space for us to listen. I think a lot of organizations come in with their agenda or what they want to do for the group or the community partner, and I’m learning to listen more. We have to not assume what they need, but actually hear about what they need and who they are and what they’re excited about and what their challenges are, before assuming that this partnership is good for them.

I don’t want to tell you why you should love theater. I want you to tell me why you should love theater. Part of getting someone to understand why theater might matter to them is to have them do it themselves. I think that’s what the workshops are about.

Are you intentionally making connections between other organizations in the hopes that they can continue in partnerships even when you’re not involved?
That’s the idea. Right now, a place where they can all come together is at out shows. A part of our program has always been subsidized tickets for these community groups. For “Twelfth Night,” we’re doing a project where there are five community partners that are creating an original video piece based on the themes of “Twelfth Night” and how it relates to them. And then we’re going to have a screening of the video where all the five organizations are invited to come and view what they created together.

There is a great deal of power in listening to what the community has to say. In allowing the space to ask for their message, in return, it can guide you to powerful ways to partner, and amazing ways to become a conduit for other people to partner.

The arts industry has long been voicing what we want to give to our communities. Maybe it truly is time to listen so we can give what the community wants as well. Only then can we become a part of our communities and form solid partnerships. The first step, all we have to do, is to listen.

Shoshana

Shoshana Fanizza
Chief Audience Builder, ADS

The Tao of Audience Development for the Arts