The University of Chicago Cultural Policy Center

News

Set in Stone presented at the National Building Museum

On March 14, Set in Stone co-author Joanna Woronkowicz presented the study's findings at the National Building Museum. View a video of the 10-minute presentation on cultural building at the museum's website.

New paper on the feasibility of establishing an arts and culture research network

Written by CPC Senior Fellow Norman Bradburn, a new working paper examines the feasibility of establishing a research network dedicated to arts and culture. It notes, "The issue of cultural policy is no less important today than it was a decade and a half ago; arguably it is even more important because of the profound and rapid changes taking place in technology, in the increasingly diverse racial, ethnic and religious makeup of the nation, and the squeezing out of arts education under the pressure of increased emphasis on math and science education." However, "[w]hile the concepts "economic policy", "educational policy" and "health policy" have more or less understandable referents, the concept "cultural policy" most often elicits a cognitive blank." Download the full paper [PDF].

New York Times cites Campus Art Museums study

The article takes the newly expanded Yale University Art Gallery as its main example as it examines how art museums on university campuses are evolving. "Betty Farrell, the executive director of the policy center, noted that art museums have always been odd ducks within the academic structure, which is built around departments. But, she said, they are starting to find ways both to fit into their universities and to use their neither/nor status to serve as cultural gathering places for both students and the public."

The Cultural Policy Center report cited by the article is Campus Art Museums in the 21st Century: A Conversation.

Carroll Joynes featured on WQXR radio discussing Avery Fisher Hall renovation

On December 5, Set in Stone co-principal investigator Carroll Joynes appeared on WQXR, New York's classical music radio station, to discuss the renovation of Avery Fisher Hall. Drawing on results from the study and his more recent travels to performing arts centers around the nation, Professor Joynes talked about the pitfalls of cost overruns, leadership changes, and difficult decisions that often threaten cultural building projects. Listen to the 25-minute show here.

"Diversify or Die": Demographic Transformation report cited

This November 16 ArtInfo article revisits our report "Demographic Transformation and the Future of Museums" in the context of the conversation spurred by the presidential election on the necessity of diversification. "Make no mistake about it," author Ben Davis writes, "the 'emerging majority' thesis has great significance for art and its institutions."