Fund for the Arts

Reception for the National Arts Marketing Project Conference

By: Josh Miller

Published On: December 28, 2011

The National Arts Marketing Project Conference (NAMPC) brought guests from across the country to Louisville for five days of workshops, speakers, and events. At the Brown Theatre, which served as the perfect spot for the Fund for the Arts Reception, Laura Belcher—co-founder of power2give.org from Charlotte, North Carolina—shared a bench with a statue of KFC’s Colonel Sanders, and artist Bart Galloway painted a Jack Daniels bottle while guests munched on chicken salad and pizza provided by YUM!

“I always say, ‘Here in Louisville the drinks are good, the arts are great, and we do chicken right!’” said Barbara Sexton Smith, President and CEO of Fund for the Arts. “How are you enjoying that Art-tini from Brown-Forman? Can I get a yeehaw?!” Sexton’s energy and excitement quieted the muffled conversations, as she presented the man she referred to as “the greatest man in the world related to the arts . . .Bob Lynch.” Lynch, the President and CEO of Americans for the Arts, has been working in the arts for over 30 years to “empower communities and leaders to advance arts and arts appreciation in society.”

Attendees from across the country—including Kickstarter and Fractured Atlas of New York City; Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau from California; Aurora Theatre of Lawrenceville, Georgia; and Artsopolis Network from San Jose, California—introduced themselves while enjoying bourbon cocktails, sharing ideas, and helping each other strategize on how to successfully reach their target demographics. Sam Horn, the renowned “intrigue expert,” discussed how to win support and funding for a project or event. “Start by asking three ‘Did–you–know?’ questions.” She demonstrated this tactic by asking “Did you know that 1.8 million people are vaccinated each year? … pause… Did you know that half of those vaccines are given with used needles?” Horn didn’t need to ask a third question, because all eyebrows were now showing interest and focus, and their attention was hers, thus proving her point. This demonstration, and Horn’s following suggestions, gave listening ears new tools to help in their journey toward providing their communities with better art programs, events, and organizations.

As the evening came to a close, The White Russians, featuring Amos Hopkins, played bluegrass, topping off the experience for those new to the south… and to Kentucky! JM

—photographs by josh miller