The highly-respected RAND Corporation recently released a document discussing how to stem the declines in consumer demand for the arts. Not to sound all Joe-Biden-Loving-and-Respecting-John-McCain, but RAND does have great thinkers on the payroll.

Unfortunately, in this case, the great thinking isn’t worth the time its taking to write this entry. Basically (cue violins), the conclusion is that in order to cultivate demand, we, as a society, must do more to fund more arts education. Yes, this makes sense, and we don’t dispute that education breeds familiarity, which in turn breeds liking. But, its more of what the study omits that makes us glad no trees were killed in order for us to read it.

In 150 pages, the word:

“digital” appears twice

“internet” appears five times

“online” appears thirteen times (five times in footnotes, and the rest in relation to surveys or courses)

“website” isn’t found at all

We’re in the midst of the biggest change in how people and organizations communicate with one another, and everything related to that change is completely ignored. Incredible.

The business model for arts and culture is changing in exciting and innovative ways. Arts and cultural organizations need to look forward, not back.

Tagged with: cultivating demand , idiocy , RAND , study , think tank , Wallace