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Sign up todayThe Audacity of Relevance
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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.
Reviews
“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 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-Josée Desrochers, Présidente-directrice générale, Place des Arts de Montréal
“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
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