RESCHEDULED: Art Advocacy: A Conversation on Civic Engagement

Strategies will include how to be an advocate both through the arts, and for the arts. We will discuss the impact of using the arts as a medium for advocacy work on issues such as climate and social justice. We will also discuss how advocating for the arts, is indeed, advocating for potential solutions to cross sector problems.

Reflective of the BAC's Community Cultural Plan's Priority “Advance Civic Dialogue, Awareness, and Participation”, we think it is critical that artists share in a collective conversation and vision on the value of community based arts and culture programs.

Evan Weissman is the founding executive director of Warm Cookies of the Revolution, a Civic Health Club that blends innovative arts and culture with crucial civic issues. Prior to founding Warm Cookies of the Revolution, he spent 12 years as a company member of the collaborative Buntport Theater Company, who the Denver Post called “Monty Python’s anarchist grandchildren”, winning over 100 awards as playwright, director, designer, and actor. His work with Warm Cookies includes creating live events, installations, videos, music, and books. He is horrible at drawing and swimming, among many other deficiencies. Evan lives in Denver with his wife Kristin and their kids Ezra Huck and Tavi Scout.     

Meredith Badler is the Deputy Director at Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA). Meredith oversees all of CBCA’s programs, major events, research and trainings. Meredith also stewards CBCA’s grassroots and direct advocacy for Colorado’s arts and creative industries. Prior to CBCA, Meredith worked as a strategy consultant for the nonprofit sector at Corona Insights and in patron services for Curious Theatre Company. Meredith serves on the Board of Art Students League of Denver and as Co-Chair of the Capacity Building Committee for the Creative States Coalition. She has a background in theatre and still performs improv comedy.