On October 13-14, more than 120 people representing arts and cultural organizations from across the great state of Tennessee gathered for the Tennessee Arts Commission’s fall conference. Acknowledging the extraordinary backdrop against which the conference was set, the gathering was titled, Reflect, Recharge, Reset: Working Together in the Tough Times.

KCRW was privileged to coordinate the conference, and the agenda featured programs and presenters focused on themes of innovation, collaboration and strategic planning. There were also sessions more specifically aimed at fundraising and writing effective case statements. And advocacy, lots of talk about advocacy and helping funders understand the essential nature of the arts in the lives of Tennesseans.

But the real value in the conference came during the round tables and idea exchanges between the conferees. As people talked about what was going on in their corners of the world, the lights of inspiration flickered on as others heard about practical ways to deal with economic hard times.

To be truly effective, a conference should not be an end in itself; it needs to be a catalyst for creative thought and viewing the world through a new lens. In that respect, Reflect, Recharge, Reset accomplished just what the title promised, and the arts in Tennessee will be stronger and more sustainable for it.

View Conference Presentations:

Agenda

Trends in Fundraising and Philanthropy

Self-Guided Strategic Planning

Crafting Compelling Case Statements

Word Clouds