Abstract:
Nearly fifty years ago, Robert E. Gard, Wisconsin community arts pioneer, challenged
Americans to ensure our arts were for everyone, in every part of the country. The past two
to three decades have seen great strides in diverse community-building, but it is still an
unfinished conversation. How diverse are our art makers, leaders, audiences, funders,
educators, and students? How equitable is funding for arts and culture? How accessible are
the arts for every person living in the United States? Where are we succeeding, and where
are our deepest challenges? As America indeed changes at a rapid pace, now is the time for
communities nationwide to intentionally and thoughtfully investigate, evaluate, and set forth
action agendas around the ideas of access and equity.