Ballet That Revvs Your Motor

by:

Joe Patti

On the question of dumbing down the arts, one entry sticks out in my mind- Ballet of the Speedway. Roanoke Ballet Theatre presented NASCAR Ballet five years ago. I had a number of conversation with arts managers over this–whether it is pandering or a frank acknowledgment that the arts must serve their community. I am still not sure I have a definitive sense of where I stand on this.

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Author
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 (details).

My most recent role is as Theater Manager at the Rialto in Loveland, CO.

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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