Orchestra Conference 2010 a la social media
Conferences in 2010 are more than ever demonstrating the multi-faceted uses and possibilities of online networking for arts organizations. This comes at a critical time, as arts organizations reflect on how they can work more with their constituents to increase engagement and build long-term audiencnes.
An example of a national conference harnessing social media this year is the League of American Orchestras 65th Annual Conference that took place from June 15-19 Atlanta. Appropriately themed – Its time to take on the future – the conference took large steps to embrace social media and created a strong online presence before and during the conference.
Orchestras are aware that in the 21st century cultural environment, it is no longer possible to ignore the importance of technology as a format of communication in the arts. I was very glad to see the level of involvement from the League in promoting collaboration through online media. The following techniques used at the National Conference encouraged a broad range of participation in conference conversations:
- Orchestra R/Evolution, a website and blog forum was begun months prior to the conference. Bloggers included the Knight Foundation’s Alan Brown; Douglas Mclennan who administrates the online ArtsJournal blog; Ian David Moss of Createquity; and Eugene Symphony’s Development Director, Maylian Pak.
- The opening session was video-streamed live online through Orchestra R/Evolution.org. The 2-hour long video included a performance from the Greenville County Young Artist Orchestras, Jese Rosen’s opening speech and much more.
- For further investigation, the conference program is available online at americanorchestras.org
what can orchestra leaders do to harness the energy and momentum created by this conference?
Four key areas that Jese Rosen, President and CEO of the League of American Orchestras, noted as critical ideas in symphony leaders’ quest for knowledge are:
- fresh ways to sustain artistic vitality;
- inventive and adaptive leadership;
- innovative artistic and operational models; and
- new frameworks for engaging with our communities.
I was not able to attend the conference myself, but am very interested to find out how these umbrella issues were tacked at the conference – so I have arranged a “post-conference” conference call for the 2010 Essentials of Orchestra Management participants.
The bold ideas and motivations that the League presents at its conferences and seminars are useful to the extent that orchestra administrators continue to debate and find solutions to the tough questions in a professional context.
To frame the upcoming conference call, I fished for the most salient questions from the conference proceedings. My overarching theme will be : Communication. I emphasize the importance of encouraging collaboration among the orchestra musicians and the audience. This creates stronger ties between the community and the orchestra as well as promoting a better understanding and appreciation of classical symphonic music.
These main questions from the conference illustrate the forward-thinking attitudes of orchestra managers today:
“What does the artistically vibrant orchestra need to look like to be essential for its community?”
“What makes an orchestras matter in the 21st century?”
How these questions are answered will affect each orchestra’s fortune in this cultural climate. I will address these and other main points with the other trained and emerging leaders that I met at the Essentials of Orchestra Management seminar. Social networking is a powerful tool which is no longer optional for successful symphony orchestras to harness and utilize effectively.
Symphony administrators work hard despite daily challenges to highlight the larger purpose of symphony orchestras that is to bring classical music to audiences. Each orchestra’s effectiveness in accomplishing this goal will determine their future in the 21st century.
Find more like this: Managing the Arts
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