Representatives from as many as 30 arts organizations in the Capital Region are meeting at this hour for a first-of-its kind gathering organized by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.
Called Common Ground, the purpose of the meeting is to foster collaboration and communication among the arts organizations in the area, says Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge President and CEO Renee Chatelain.
“To me this is what the Arts Council is all about—being that connective tissue between arts groups,” says Chatelain, who took over at the Arts Council in August and developed the idea for the Common Ground meetings. “When I look at all the activities going on there is a lot of redundancy, and that is because there isn’t really a forum where we can discuss what we’re all doing.”
The program is modeled after similar collaborative endeavors in other cities, where performing arts organizations meet regularly to share ideas. Though Chatelain doesn’t know what kind of ideas may come out of Common Ground, one suggestion already on the table is to throw some sort of event in honor of Shakespeare’s 400th birthday, which occurs in April of next year.
“There is a lot of potential for some fun things across the city that will bring awareness,” she says. “If we get creative minds together we might be able to do something fun.”
Depending on how this afternoon’s meeting goes, Chatelain hopes to get the group together at least quarterly and, eventually, monthly.
—Stephanie Riegel
