join my posse for a trip to Madison to hear Michael Kaiser speak about how to save The Arts in Milwaukee

Okay, Michael Kaiser isn't coming to Madison to talk about how to save the arts in Milwaukee alone. But one can dream.

I'm not suggesting that the arts in Milwaukee are in need of saving. I am simply advocating for a good group of art loving citizens from Milwaukee to join me in Madison on August 24 to listen to Michael Kaiser, President of The Kennedy Center, as he hits the state capitol as part of his cross country tour to talk about Arts In Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative.

This is a chance to take part in a symposium given by a guy who decided that the arts in America were approaching crisis stage and that his job as President of The Kennedy Center was to organize a way to advise struggling institutions how to do good, respectful, trusty worthy, community building turnaround. Sounds like a good thing to listen to, don't you think? (That's right, I'm pointing a finger at you, you know who you are.)

I would love to organize a carpool group to Madison that day. Maybe we could even have a little supper after the symposium at some quaint Madison bistro like State Street Brats or some other swanky joint.

I you'd like to be part of my posse, shoot me an e-mail at jonathanwest@artsyschmartsy.com by Friday, July 24 and I'll send in a collective RSVP. If you choose to go alone, make sure you tap me on the shoulder at the Overture Center that day. Here's the details:

Arts In Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative

Symposium with Michael M. Kaiser
President of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and author of The Art of the Turnaround

Monday, August 24, 2009
2:00 – 2:45 pm Book Signing with Michael Kaiser
3:00 – 4:30 pm Symposium

Capitol Theater
Overture Center for the Arts
201 State Street
Madison, Wisconsin

Kaiser addresses the challenges facing non-profit arts and cultural organizations today through fundraising, building more effective boards of trustees, budgeting, marketing, technology, and other areas pertinent to maintaining a vital organization during a troubled economy. The Madison event is free and is part of a 50-state tour.

Books will be available for purchase.

Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative is funded by Helen Lee Henderson and Adrienne Arsht.

To register for this symposium, RSVP to info@overturecenter.com with your name, affiliation, number of guests in your party, and phone or e-mail contact. No phone reservations accepted.

Remember Janet Zweig? She wants to help make you a Thousand Dollarnaire!

I threw in with everyone else on the Janet Zweig public art affair some time back. You may recall that this talented artist almost had her great public art project cock blocked in Common Council committee world. "Nah!" said the art lovers of this community and Zweig's project is shuttling forth quite nicely.

To that end, the artist contacted me and others to post information about how you can become a part of her public art project. This is a pretty fine deal, too. If your idea is one of 15 selected to be represented throughout her exhibits, then you get a thousand clams.

Put on your thinking hats and show your pals and business associates that all the hullabaloo about Milwaukee being a creative hub isn't just lip service.

Here's the details:

Idea competition!

$1,000 honorarium to each of 15 winners or winning teams

Your observations and ideas are wanted for "Pedestrian Drama" a public artwork by Janet Zweig, a series of animated plays displayed on flip signs along East Wisconsin Avenue.

Just tell us a story of a pedestrian encounter you've seen on the sidewalks of Milwaukee.
We are looking for tales of remarkable and remarkably unremarkable pedestrian encounters.
We are looking for stories of amusing or quirky interactions that are "pedestrian" in both senses of the word.

If your idea wins, it will be developed into a short play consisting of two or more people interacting on the sidewalks of Milwaukee. With your consent, your idea may be combined with other winning ideas in order to complete one play. The plays will be developed in collaboration with Milwaukee actors, dancers, and directors. They will then be translated into short animated films for display on one of 5 flip-sign kiosks attached to light poles in downtown Milwaukee, beginning in 2010.

Each of 15 winners or teams of winners will receive $1,000 and will be named on the kiosks. If two or more stories are merged into one play, the winners will share the $1,000.

For details, examples, and how to apply, please go to :

www.janetzweig.com/PedestrianDrama.html