GenARTS’ Purpose

Around the country arts organizations, funders, and communities have identified and begun actively addressing the challenge of filling a rapidly approaching arts leadership vacuum. Within the next few years, as baby-boomers in arts leadership positions begin to retire, a new generation of leaders will be required to step into these roles and shepherd organizations into the future.

Likewise, as the nation’s arts audiences are aging and disappearing from the arts landscape, our concert halls, galleries, museums, and theatres will require the cultivation of a new generation of young arts-lovers. genARTS exists to tackle these challenges and ensure that Silicon Valley’s arts and cultural organizations and institutions find themselves in capable hands with passionate and active new audiences.

“The future of nonprofit arts organizations large and small depends on attracting the best new talent to administer their affairs, to serve as artists and audiences, and to act as advocates, boosters, and financial supporters. Given the shrinking pool of younger people and the increased competition for their attention, action to meet this pressing and increasingly complex challenge can no longer be left to a vague future date.”

-Report and call-to-action by Barry Hessenius and Hewlett Foundation – April 2007

GenARTS starting point

genARTS Silicon Valley was founded in 2007 by 1st Act Silicon Valley’s Director of Communications and Emerging Initiatives, Josh Russell, to encourage leadership from young arts and culture professionals in Silicon Valley. The venture began with some initial guidance from Americans for the Arts, a first Creative Conversation, and early funding from the Hewlett Foundation to connect steering committee members with the state and national Emerging Arts Leaders communities in both Sacramento and Philadelphia.

In 2008 and 2009 genARTS Silicon Valley hosted several emerging arts leaders mixers, two more Creative Conversations, and launched its mentorship program. In 2009, genARTS acquired three-year commitments of support from the Hewlett and Irvine Foundations, genARTS Silicon Valley is now working to grow its network of emerging leaders, raise awareness about its cause, build an impressive toolkit of professional development resources for its members, and energize a new generation of young arts supporters.

Mission | Purpose & History | Steering Committee | Contact |