Arlene Goldbard
“Thousands of years ago, art aided our survival as a species. Today, culture is the laboratory in which we nurture compassion and discover how to improvise a livable future. And artists are the stem cells of our body politic, generating myriad forms of beauty and meaning—in effect, the indicator species for our social well-being.” – Arlene Goldbard
WomenArts is thrilled to announce the publication of two new books by Arlene Goldbard, The Wave and The Culture of Possibility: Art, Artists and the Future. Goldbard is widely recognized as a wise observer of the non-profit arts sector and one of our most passionate visionaries. She writes and lectures extensively, and WomenArts has been proud to have her as the co-director of our Harmony Project for Arts and Social Justice, which has been generously funded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation this past two years.
Gloria Steinem Says “Read These Books!”
“The Wave tells us how to create a future in which creativity, empathy, and social imagination are the primary forces in our daily lives. Everything in it is doable and practical. It is a road map to the future country we want to live in.” – Gloria Steinem
The Wave is a novel set in 2033. Goldbard imagines a future where everyone recognizes the value of the arts and they have been fully integrated into daily life. The arts are used to teach children and to heal patients – you can even go to a corner store to get a music prescription to help you sort out an emotional issue. She presents this world through the eyes of Rebecca Price, a journalist who has interviewed people who were instrumental in creating this deep cultural shift.
“The Culture of Possibility: This title alone opens doors, and Arlene Goldbard offers more on every page. By showing us that culture is the crucible in which we forge our laws and our government as well as our values and families, she restores our power as unique individuals and as creative communities.” – Gloria Steinem
The Culture of Possibility: Art, Artists & the Future is a book of essays in which Goldbard argues that we are in the midst of a seismic cultural change. In the old paradigm, priority is given to things that can be numbered, measured, and weighed; and people are pressured to adapt and make sacrifices in the name of profit margins and other numeric indicators that have no relationship to our emotional realities.
In the new paradigm, culture is given its true value. The movements of money and armies may receive close attention from politicians and media voices, but at ground-level, we care most about human stories, one life at a time. In a brilliant series of essays, Goldbard shows how artists and others are using imagination and empathy to build bridges to the new paradigm and create hope for the future.
Get a 20% Early Bird Discount!
WomenArts readers are eligible for a special 20% discount on these books for a limited time only. To get the discount, use the special links below and enter the discount code: 76KPUKT8
- Order The Wave (List Price $14.99; Early Bird Discount Price $11.99)
- Order The Culture of Possibility (List Price $18.99; Early Bird Discount Price $15.19)
- If you wish to order in bulk, favorable discounts are available on direct orders of 5 or more copies. Please email Arlene Goldbard through her website to receive a price list.
Meet Arlene Goldbard in New York or Berkeley
Arlene Goldbard has scheduled book launch parties in New York and Berkeley:
- New York: On Thursday, May 23 from 6 p.m – 7:30 p.m. Goldbard will speak at the Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics at New York University, 20 Cooper Square, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10003. (The event is free and open to the public. ID is required to enter all New York University buildings.)
- Berkeley: On Sunday, June 2 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Goldbard will speak at the Center for Digital Storytelling, 1250 Addison Street #104 (at Bonar), Berkeley, CA 94702. (The event is free and open to the public.)
Please Help Spread the Word!
One of the biggest challenges facing women artists and all artists these days is that we are living in an atmosphere that is very hostile towards artists and arts funding. These two books articulate a vision of an arts-positive world that we desperately need.
WomenArts urges you to share Arlene Goldbard’s books and ideas with your friends and colleagues. Goldbard has established a Facebook page about these books. If you are interested in reviewing the book or inviting her to speak, please contact her through her website at: www.ArleneGoldbard.com.