The Art(s) of Social Media: A Chat with Jane Chu
by Julia Rocchi on 22 Oct 2008
Storytelling, movement, and music have been part of the human experience since we first walked upright. And though we still perform in theaters and on stages, our artistic pursuits are constantly redefined and reinvented through social media. At this nexus of art and tech sits Jane Chu, president and CEO of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City -- but she needs your social citizen-brand of genius to make the project really sing for Millennials in her community. Read on to find out how Jane wants to make the Center a community focal point, and leave your advice/suggestions/answers in the comments for her. Thanks in advance!
Tell us a little bit about yourself! What’s your arts background? How did you get involved in this project?
Prior to coming to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, my past training and experience did not appear to be very linear. I majored in piano in college and got a master’s degree in piano pedagogy. I wanted to train my left brain, too, so I got an MBA degree. I am presently working on a PhD in philanthropic studies at Indiana University. I’ve worked for both foundations and nonprofit organizations, and have watched this performing arts center develop from the seed of an idea to a reality. For me, the project represents a synthesis of my past training, experience, and especially what I enjoy doing on a daily basis.
Let’s set the stage (literally) about the Kauffman Center. What is it, where is it, and when is it opening? What makes it unique among performing arts centers?
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is under construction in Kansas City, scheduled to open in the 2010-2011 performance season. This $413 million Center will serve as a place for the performing arts, with three resident companies -- the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City -- as well as other productions. The unique architectural components designed by Moshe Safdie also feature outstanding acoustics designed by acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota and comfortable theater experiences in both performance halls, with state-of-the-art equipment designed by Richard Pilbrow.
What are your goals for involving Millennials in the Center? Will there be opportunities for them to help shape the programs?
We vowed that the Kauffman Center would break out of any perception that we are an elitist organization, and Millenials are important to this. We have a great opportunity to involve them in shaping our programs. A group of young adults approached us about creating a Young Friends group now, even before we open. They are filled with energy and have taken the ball and run with it. We are also developing our education programs now, to keep Millenials engaged.
How do you think the arts experience will change or deepen for all participants based on input by the public? Do you think this public engagement will be an effective way to get more Millennials engaged at the Center?
In the performing arts, there is an element of time that you have to take into consideration. Unlike a museum where you can look at a piece of art, walk away, and come back on your own time, a performing arts production requires that you and the rest of the audience sit within a time period and experience the performance together. So, even if you don’t know the person sitting beside you, in many ways the whole audience is having a social experience together. It seems that the more the live performing arts can create a social experience that engages the audience there will be an increased participation by the public. And the more we pay attention to the types of experiences Millennials want, the more engaged they will be. Do we have enough technology to support the needs of the Millennials and beyond?
How do you envision the Center connecting with other community organizations and schools?
The Kauffman Center is not a silo on a hill. It will thrive on a network of community involvement, from engaging community organizations in various functions at the Center, and connecting school districts from the whole metropolitan area. The great thing about this is that we get to engage the community in activities that connect to the Center now, instead of waiting until we open.
Now we're going to offer up our fantastic audience as a resource. What are your burning questions for Millennials?
I would love to have ideas about what kinds of social experiences Millennials enjoy having, from non-arts performances to arts presentations. From these ideas, we can help shape the types of programs and experiences we can offer at the Kauffman Center when we open.
- What kind of public building attracts a Millennial and why?
- What kinds of social experiences do Millennials like to attend and why?
- What types of arts performances do you leave saying, “That was terrific!” and why?
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