Overview

The arts and culture sector is in crisis--a crisis of relevance. Whether it's grappling with dwindling audience sizes, shifting trends in philanthropy, or addressing social challenges, experts have been documenting this slow decline for decades. At the core of Alex Sarian's international career is the conviction that cultural organizations must embrace a greater civic purpose and build a new business model--one based on the social impact of the arts. Throughout The Audacity of Relevance, Sarian engages in conversations with leaders from across industries to paint a potential future for arts organizations--a future built on measuring our sector's success by how positively we can influence the many local communities that surround us. It doesn't matter if you're a seasoned executive or are just beginning in your career--the principles and anecdotes in this book will inspire you to see the world of arts and culture for what it truly is: filled with endless possibilities for reinvention.

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9781770417731

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Reviews

""Alex Sarian has given us a manifesto for the arts in times of crises. Chock full of compelling stories of organizations (including his own) -- challenging us to ask 'What are we good for?' rather than 'What are we good at?' -- Sarian forces us to focus on the experiences that bring people together."" -- Timothy J. McClimon, Executive Director, Signature Theatre Company ""Alex Sarian highlights a critical challenge in the arts community that cannot be addressed by public relations efforts or one-off gestures. Arts organizations need to rethink what they are and whom they serve and align their values with those of the people they hope to engage. Only then will our audiences return. Alex's book throws down an existential gauntlet in our sector: It's a challenge we must rise to if the arts are to thrive in the twenty-first century."" -- Rachel Moore, President & CEO, The Music Center, Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County ""Alex Sarian asks the questions we should all be asking, and the voices he's gathered in conversation are the ones we need to listen to. The touchstone values he endorses -- humility, generosity, and authentic engagement with communities -- should be the rallying cry for the performing arts today."" -- Christopher Deacon, President & CEO, Canada's National Arts Centre ""Alex Sarian has curated a stellar line-up of thinkers to reflect on what went wrong and what needs to change. As arts communities around the world grapple with a poly crisis of issues that are fundamentally changing the way our sector operates, these conversations are essential to illuminating a way forward."" -- Chris Lorway, President & CEO, The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity ""Alex Sarian has written a practical and positive provocation that invites all of us to take a step back and have a people-centered approach to the future of the arts. By challenging us to balance our artistic and civic responsibilities to reassemble today's arts sector, this book is a must-read in these particular times of change."" -- Marie-Jos�e Desrochers, Pr�sidente-directrice g�n�rale, Place des Arts de Montr�al ""It has become clear that a big RESET button needs to be pressed on the core value proposition of the arts. Alex Sarian's brilliant book offers the blueprint that is so desperately needed."" -- Owais Lightwala, Assistant Professor, The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University ""Alex Sarian has the audacity to shine a spotlight on what's been missing from our ability to engage arts and culture to build truly powerful cities: the voice of the people. He makes a compelling case that fretting over outdated models will not reveal solutions for communal resilience. For Sarian, the solution is much more pragmatic and grounded. Success hinges on understanding how people wish to see themselves reflected in the arts."" -- Mayor Jyoti Gondek, City of Calgary ""The Audacity of Relevance makes a compelling case for arts organizations seeking sustainability and impact in the twenty-first century, emphasizing the need for adaptability and community engagement, for the relentless pursuit of relevance."" -- Muyiwa Oki, President, Royal Institute of British Architects ""The Audacity of Relevance isn't just for arts leaders but for artists, philanthropists, and arts-loving audiences. It provides a modern look at our organizations and invites us to break the echo chambers we operate in. By forcing us to see the world differently, Alex Sarian asks us to rethink our purpose by leaning into our shared humanity."" -- Sarah Arison, Trustee, MoMA ""The Audacity of Relevance offers a new and compelling paradigm for the arts -- one rooted in service, participation, and humility -- that has the potential to transform our community for the better. Through a brilliantly curated set of anecdotes and provocations, Alex Sarian dares us to reimagine an arts ecosystem that returns to its rightful place: at the very core of our shared human experience."" -- Clive Chang, President & CEO, YoungArts

"""Alex Sarian asks the questions we should all be asking, and the voices he's gathered in conversation are the ones we need to listen to. The touchstone values he endorses -- humility, generosity, and authentic engagement with communities -- should be the rallying cry for the performing arts today."" -- Christopher Deacon, President & CEO, Canada's National Arts Centre ""Alex Sarian has curated a stellar line-up of thinkers to reflect on what went wrong and what needs to change. As arts communities around the world grapple with a poly crisis of issues that are fundamentally changing the way our sector operates, these conversations are essential to illuminating a way forward."" -- Chris Lorway, President & CEO, The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity ""Alex Sarian has given us a manifesto for the arts in times of crises. Chock full of compelling stories of organizations (including his own) -- challenging us to ask 'What are we good for?' rather than 'What are we good at?' -- Sarian forces us to focus on the experiences that bring people together."" -- Timothy J. McClimon, Executive Director, Signature Theatre Company ""Alex Sarian has written a practical and positive provocation that invites all of us to take a step back and have a people-centered approach to the future of the arts. By challenging us to balance our artistic and civic responsibilities to reassemble today's arts sector, this book is a must-read in these particular times of change."" -- Marie-Jos�e Desrochers, Pr�sidente-directrice g�n�rale, Place des Arts de Montr�al ""Alex Sarian highlights a critical challenge in the arts community that cannot be addressed by public relations efforts or one-off gestures. Arts organizations need to rethink what they are and whom they serve and align their values with those of the people they hope to engage. Only then will our audiences return. Alex's book throws down an existential gauntlet in our sector: It's a challenge we must rise to if the arts are to thrive in the twenty-first century."" -- Rachel Moore, President & CEO, The Music Center, Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County ""It has become clear that a big RESET button needs to be pressed on the core value proposition of the arts. Alex Sarian's brilliant book offers the blueprint that is so desperately needed."" -- Owais Lightwala, Assistant Professor, The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University ""Alex Sarian has the audacity to shine a spotlight on what's been missing from our ability to engage arts and culture to build truly powerful cities: the voice of the people. He makes a compelling case that fretting over outdated models will not reveal solutions for communal resilience. For Sarian, the solution is much more pragmatic and grounded. Success hinges on understanding how people wish to see themselves reflected in the arts."" -- Mayor Jyoti Gondek, City of Calgary ""The Audacity of Relevance isn't just for arts leaders but for artists, philanthropists, and arts-loving audiences. It provides a modern look at our organizations and invites us to break the echo chambers we operate in. By forcing us to see the world differently, Alex Sarian asks us to rethink our purpose by leaning into our shared humanity."" -- Sarah Arison, Trustee, MoMA ""The Audacity of Relevance makes a compelling case for arts organizations seeking sustainability and impact in the twenty-first century, emphasizing the need for adaptability and community engagement, for the relentless pursuit of relevance."" -- Muyiwa Oki, President, Royal Institute of British Architects ""The Audacity of Relevance offers a new and compelling paradigm for the arts -- one rooted in service, participation, and humility -- that has the potential to transform our community for the better. Through a brilliantly curated set of anecdotes and provocations, Alex Sarian dares us to reimagine an arts ecosystem that returns to its rightful place: at the very core of our shared human experience."" -- Clive Chang, President & CEO, YoungArts"

"""A must-read for all arts leaders and lovers. These critical conversations shine new light on how to make lasting change. If you want to understand how the world is changing -- and what to do about it -- Alex Sarian shows you the way."" -- Henry Timms, President & CEO, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts ""Alex Sarian asks the questions we should all be asking, and the voices he's gathered in conversation are the ones we need to listen to. The touchstone values he endorses -- humility, generosity, and authentic engagement with community -- should be the rallying cry for the performing arts today."" -- Christopher Deacon, President & CEO, National Arts Centre ""Alex Sarian has the audacity to shine a spotlight on what's been missing from our ability to engage arts and culture to build truly powerful cities: the voice of the people. He makes a compelling case that fretting over outdated models will not reveal solutions for communal resilience. For Sarian, the solution is much more pragmatic and grounded. Success hinges on understanding how people wish to see themselves reflected in the arts."" -- Mayor Jyoti Gondek, City of Calgary ""Sarian's work explores what relevance should look like for the arts today. He takes us through a series of provocations that highlight choices -- not to merely survive, but to thrive in service to our communities and indeed to be catalysts in society. A must-read for all arts lovers."" -- Claire Spencer, CEO, Barbican Centre London ""Written in a practical way with authenticity, transparency, and positive provocation, Alex Sarian invites all of us to take a step back and have an anthropological approach to the future of the arts. How do we balance our artistic and civic responsibilities to reassemble today's struggling arts community? Certainly a book to read in this particular time of change."" -- Marie-Jos�e Desrochers, Pr�sidente-directrice g�n�rale, Place des Arts ""The Audacity of Relevance gives us the opportunity to reimagine the role of the arts in a world that is constantly changing. Alex Sarian's book beautifully reframes the challenges organizations are facing into opportunities for them to reengage their relevance. As a leader in reimagining institutions, Sarian's work is essential for everyone looking to focus on audiences through the lens of humility and service."" -- Devyani Saltzman, Writer and Curator ""The Audacity of Relevance is a refreshingly honest reflection on the current state of the arts and an optimistic take on how to ensure their future is more equitable, inclusive, and yes, relevant. A foundational read for anyone who believes that the arts have the potential to shape society for the better."" -- Victoria Rogers, Trustee, Brooklyn Museum ""The Audacity of Relevance isn't just for arts organizations and their leaders, but for artists, philanthropists, and arts-loving audiences. It provides a modern look at our ecosystem and examines how we can break the echo chamber we operate in. By forcing us to see the world differently, Sarian invites us to rethink our relevance and lean into our shared humanity."" -- Sarah Arison, President, Arison Arts Foundation, and President of the Board, MoMA ""The Audacity of Relevance uplifts a critical discussion that needs to happen more broadly in the arts community. As Alex points out, relevance will not be attained by public relations efforts or one-off gestures; instead, it will require arts organizations to rethink what they are, and whom they serve. Audiences are a visible expression of the values of an arts institution. Only when those values and priorities change will our audiences return and engage. Alex's book throws down an existential gauntlet in our sector, and it's a challenge we must rise up to if the arts are to thrive in the twenty-first century."" -- Rachel Moore, President & CEO, The Music Center (performing arts center of Los Angeles County) ""In The Audacity of Relevance, Sarian has curated a stellar line-up of thinkers -- both inside and outside of the arts -- who offer insights into what went wrong and what needs to change. As the global arts sector grapples with a poly crisis of issues that are fundamentally changing the way our sector operates, these conversations are essential to illuminating a way forward."" -- Chris Lorway, President & CEO, The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity"

Author Information

Alex Sarian is the president & CEO of Arts Commons, one of Canada's foremost centres for the arts, where he leads the largest cultural infrastructure project in the country's history. Alex was born in Toronto, raised in Buenos Aires, and spent eighteen years in New York City, most notably as a senior executive at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. With a background in education, he is deeply committed to making the transformative power of the arts accessible to all. For more information, visit www.alexsarian.com.

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