Blog Goal

I read a short article in the May 6, 2004 issue of Time about a website that embraced a goal that was similar to the one I have for this blog. Unfortunately, the article is not online to link to.

The article was about an American and New Zealander who have created an e-Parliament website (www.e-parl.net). Their goal is to serve as “a town hall for legislators from around the globe.” They created the e-Parliament to allow lawmakers the ability to common challenges. “[There is] no way for M.P.s to learn among themselves, no Google for politics.” says co-founder William Ury.

They hope to provide members with the ability to address issues more swiftly and effectively by allowing members to search for global colleagues who have already begun developing policy on issues like early childhood education and counterterrorism. According to the article, they are in currently trying to figure out how tools like email, chat software and intranets can be best employed.

This is a project I would like to grow out of my blogging here–collecting feedback and ideas to create a resource for cultural organizations to consult. Nobody is contributing right yet, but I have only been around for a few months. In time, perhaps….

About Joe Patti

I have been writing Butts in the Seats (BitS) on topics of arts and cultural administration since 2004 (yikes!). Given the ever evolving concerns facing the sector, I have yet to exhaust the available subject matter. In addition to BitS, I am a founding contributor to the ArtsHacker (artshacker.com) website where I focus on topics related to boards, law, governance, policy and practice.

I am also an evangelist for the effort to Build Public Will For Arts and Culture being helmed by Arts Midwest and the Metropolitan Group. (http://www.creatingconnection.org/about/)

My most recent role was as Executive Director of the Grand Opera House in Macon, GA.

Among the things I am most proud are having produced an opera in the Hawaiian language and a dance drama about Hawaii's snow goddess Poli'ahu while working as a Theater Manager in Hawaii. Though there are many more highlights than there is space here to list.

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