Earlier this year, the Arizona Commission on the Arts invested $124,000 in 21 arts-based entrepreneurial ventures through a new funding initiative called Arizona Art Tank. In a departure from our usual application and panel review process, top applicants for this program were given six minutes each to pitch an innovative, “business unusual” venture to an expert panel and a live audience at one of four regional events. The highest scoring ventures at each event were awarded $10,000 in seed-funding.
Over the next few months, we’ll be following the progress of these top-scoring ventures, checking in periodically to see how our investment is doing. Today, we’re catching up with the top grantees from our East and South events: Arizona State University School of Art and Tucson Museum of Art.
Arizona State University School of Art (ASU) was represented at Arizona Art Tank by School of Art Director Adriene Jenik and Graduate Research Assistant (and Phoenix business-owner) Kara Roschi. Their ambitious proposal extends the School of Arts’ mission to advance “a dynamic interchange between the university and community” into exciting new territory.
Tuscon Museum of Art (TMA) built their pitch around the comically literal presentation of the “old guard” museum director standing inside a box while a pair of young, unconstrained staff members took the fore to offer a fresh take on what their museum could be and who it could reach.
How would you describe your venture in one sentence?
ASU: The ASU Art Xchange is like a match.com for artists and blank walls.
TMA: The Get STARTed project consists of an inclusive group of diverse young adult members of the Tucson Museum of Art, united by a passion for the arts and a goal to show that art is a universal language, and a program series wherein these “STARTists” suggest and facilitate collaborative educational, social, and cultural programs where participants can discover their own unique intersections with art and their museum.
Where did the idea for your venture come from?
ASU: I receive requests several times a week from people thinking that the work of our talented artists could be shown in their space. These are “non-traditional” exhibition spaces – waiting rooms, lobbies, offices, etc and the requests come from a broad range of people including city councilpersons, local law firms and the ASU auditing office.
TMA: The idea came from a group of young people who work at the Museum and who began to look at the institution through their peers’ eyes. They realized a fresh new approach was needed that would complement the proud reputation and work of TMA by creating innovative and unique intersections with the institution and the artistic, educational, cultural, and social opportunities it presents in ways that would make it relevant and authentic to new and modern demographics. With the support, advice, and enthusiasm of senior staff and board members at the Museum, the seed of START, and the programming it would create, was planted.
What was the biggest challenge for you in preparing/presenting your pitch?
ASU: We thought it was important to memorize the script rather than reading. It was my project partner Kara Roschi’s first time speaking publicly to a large audience, so that must have been hard for her!
TMA: By far, the biggest challenge was condensing such an important and complex idea into 6 minutes of time. Our project was so unique and multifaceted that it was very difficult to explore its nuances, far-reaching implications, and relevance in such a limited amount of time.
What did you learn from the process of preparing/presenting your pitch?
ASU: We got some great feedback from some graduate business students here at ASU WP Carey school of business. They timed us and took notes and they had good thoughts about making sure it was a balanced presentation.
TMA: We learned how simple and effective combining the work of the museum with the demographics we are seeking could be. The presentation was really a microcosm for the sort of interactive, peer-designed work TMA hopes to do with START. Our pitch was created through the ideas and input of the START community chair, Graham Thompson, and Katie Perry, TMA Grants Manager & Development Associate, and facilitated in numerous ways by a number of staff members at the Museum. Inviting the skills and perspectives of individuals representing the two major stakeholders of this project—the Museum and the local artist/student demographic–to create a meaningful and successful presentation, we were able to demonstrate to all skeptics the level of meaningful engagement that is accomplished when seemingly disparate and unique voices are brought together in common purpose. The success of this pitch and the project itself, therefore, we can confidently say is due to the mutual commitment of the Museum and the community to productive engagement and open collaboration.
Where are you now in the development/production of your venture?
ASU: We are preparing another public presentation for funding – to the Women + Philanthropy group at the ASU Foundation. Our request to them is to support a year of Kara working as a research assistant to get the program off and running and fully self-sustaining.
TMA: After sorting out the internal structure of START and creating a process for creating and executing programming, the group has held its first meeting, written a statement of identity and vision, and is now inviting members. On March 20, START will initiate its kick-off Thursday night program with a program called The Arts Speak, a one-day festival celebrating consciousness and global perspectives that invites local artists to create art that “speaks” to an issue they care about. The event will host numerous participatory experiences in addition to displays of art.
What’s the next hurdle?
ASU: Securing that funding, developing the webportal and identifying the business intern to fund with our AZ Art Tank award.
TMA: Our next hurdle is gaining momentum and press to ensure that START begins strong, continues to thrive, and creates enthusiasm and high usership. In addition, as this is an ongoing experiment, questions of logistics, requirements, philosophical concerns, and maintaining a sense of quality and respect while allowing artistic and creative freedom will be continually encountered.
Securing more funding, finding the right partners, and building momentum–hurdles every entrepreneur must overcome. Sounds like these two teams are up to the challenge. Where will they go from here? Stay tuned!
