Recently I had the privilege of serving as a judge for the Eiteljorg Museum’s 17th annual Quest for the West Art Show and Sale in Indianapolis. Wow, do they know how to ‘get it right!’ The artwork, the exhibition design, the activities, and the hospitality were all flawless.
Those of you who are of a certain age are probably thinking: “wait a minute; this sounds a lot like when Macy’s sent shoppers to Gimbel’s in Miracle on 34th Street.” The Western Art community is small, and tightly knit. The more we support each other, the stronger that ecosystem becomes nationwide. The best part about judging, or even just attending, events at other organizations is that one learns so much.
My take-aways from this visit were numerous, including that the recovery of arts and cultural institutions from the effects of the ongoing pandemic is uneven, depending on the funding sources and the location of those institutions. Seeing the Eiteljorg come alive again gave me renewed hope for a robust ‘high season,’ which is about to begin here in Scottsdale.
I also reflected on the importance of having opportunities to view things through a different lens. In doing so, I was reminded that there is no going back to pre-pandemic days. A seismic change occurred in the world, and the interests and expectations of audiences have shifted. I spent a lot of time listening – and thinking about our own programming and exhibitions.
We’ll be launching our season of programming in late October, following Saddle Up III. If you love the programs we’ve been presenting since opening in 2015, you’ll be thrilled with some of this year’s programs. If you’ve been yearning for something a bit different, we’ve got some new programs to spark your curiosity. As a suite, these programs are designed to appeal to a broad range of audiences; there’s something for virtually everyone.
The best part you ask? If one program leaves you cold, you can sail on past that to find the program you never want to leave. Stay tuned for a full schedule of activities in the next few weeks.