Why are you intending on pursuing any sort of future in the Arts? Why is Arts important to you. This is a truly broad topic, which is usually responded to with some form of surface thought, "elevator speech" or platitude ("art brings meaning", "everyone needs the opportunity to express themselves", etc.). However, if you intend to be a Leader in the Arts, surface level isn't a good enough position to lead from. You must be clear in the core of why you Art/Theatre/Musik, and that must be the driving force and impetus for your activities as an Arts Leader. # Key Questions 1. What is art? How do we know? Is there something about the essence of a product that makes it worth being considered "art"? Is there some other criteria that we can use to identify something as "art"? 2. What is great art? Who decides? Is it merely "in the eye of the beholder"? If it lacks a specific technique or particular type of arrangement of materials, does it make it less artful? Is art all about the pieces that were created (the finished end-product)? 3. What is the purpose of art? Is it to produce an aesthetic experience? Is it to elicit emotion? Is it a way of representing the world, or perhaps changing it? Is it symbolic of something intrinsic of the human spirit? 4. Think of the word "Art", "Theatre" or "Music" as if it were a verb. What does it mean to Art? What does it mean to Theatre? What does it mean to Music? 5. Is it possible to be precluded from the possibility of being able to appreciate art? Many philosophers have considered each of these questions at length before, each with their own arguments for certain perspectives over others. Your task is to examine these questions and formulate your own Arts Philosophy Statement, a statement of 10 words or less that may become the mantra for your Leadership in the Arts. It's important to note that your philosophy statement may evolve throughout this course, (in fact, that is somewhat expected), but we need a starting point. So at the beginning of the course you will produce your own Arts Philosophy Statement, pulling from statements and arguments made by other artists in your discipline. At the end of the course you will re-evaluate your Arts Philosophy Statement, and refine and hone it. # The First Assignment Explore the questions listed above, either as an essay, slideshow or podcast. The criteria of a successful Arts Philosophy Statement include; 1. It has considered the five questions above 2. It has referenced other people's philosophical discussions on the topic 3. It has argued an articulatable position of what art means to you 4. It includes a 3- to 10-word philosophy statement that will be (at least the starting point) of your approach to leading in the Arts. You will present your Arts Philosophy Statement to the rest of the group, which can include simply reading it or any other form of presentation you prefer. This is important, because Arts Philosophy Statements cannot be honed and developed in a vacuum, we must be willing to challenge our thoughts, or have them challenged by other people. ## Hints - Google "why is art/theatre/music important?" for great perspectives - Cite your sources - Don't be afraid to be controversial in your responses - Pith trumps verbosity