PITTSTON, PA - September 7, 2023 - WVIA, Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania’s PBS and NPR affiliate, will host the 2023 ArtScene Conference on Tuesday, September 19th at the WVIA Studios in Pittston. The second ArtScene Conference coincides with the 25th anniversary of WVIA’s ArtScene, a weekly radio show and podcast. The conference will focus on the theme of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within art spaces and in the arts community.
“We devoted the first ArtScene conference to examining ways artists and arts groups can use social media to build connections with audiences and each other,” said WVIA’s Erika Funke, host of ARTScene. “The arts reflect societal and cultural issues and currents, and during the pandemic it became clear to us that many in the creative community are now more than ever concerned with reflecting the new demographic realities in society and in our region. We hope this ArtScene conference will provide a forum for an exciting interchange of ideas and strategies to enhance the quality of life for one and all in the way we firmly believe the arts can do.”
The goal of the conference is for arts community members from different counties and different types of organizations to share ideas with one another.
“WVIA is proud to showcase the important work of many regional organizations, and we're delighted to present this ArtScene Conference to support our arts and cultural community,” said WVIA Senior Vice President, Chris Norton. “It's especially appropriate this year as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of WVIA Radio, your arts, news, and information station."
The conference will feature a variety of speakers, including artists, arts administrators, and community leaders. Topics will include:
- Funding and grants available to artists and arts organizations to improve diversity and accessibility
- The importance of diversity and inclusion in the arts
- How to make art spaces more accessible
- Strategies for creating a more inclusive arts community
- What it means to be diverse, equitable, and inclusive and what's necessary to change an organization's culture
The keynote speaker will be two time award-winning Wiley published author and inventor of the Reframe Cultural Maturity Assessment, Jeffrey L. Bowman. Bowman is the co-founder and CEO of Reframe and the author of "Reframe The Marketplace: The Total Market Approach to the New Majority" and white paper, “Leadership, Marketing and the New Majority”. Other published works include: The Cross-Cultural Report, The Brand Cross-Cultural Index, The State of the Total Market Industry Vertical, How to Assess Your Organization’s Cultural Maturity, Reframe Workplace Change Guide and Reframe Marketplace Change Guide.
The 2023 ArtScene conference is open to the public, but seating is limited so early registration is encouraged. There will be several panel discussions, a roundtable discussion, Q&A, a book signing with the keynote speaker, networking, and lunch will be provided.
The conference will be held from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Tuesday, September 19th at WVIA’s Studios, located at 100 WVIA Way in Pittston. Registration is available online.
Learn more about ArtScene or listen to past episodes here: https://www.wvia.org/radio/artscene
About WVIA
WVIA is the PBS and NPR affiliate serving over 22 counties in northeastern and central Pennsylvania. For over 50 years WVIA has been committed to serving the people by offering informational, educational, and entertaining content that enriches and expands viewpoints and serves as a catalyst for positive change. WVIA television channels include WVIA TV, WVIA PBS Kids 24/7, and WVIA Create. WVIA’s radio channels include WVIA Radio, WVIA HD2, and the Chiaroscuro Channel. WVIA’s programs can also be found streaming live and on-demand on wvia.org and the WVIA app.
WVIA Mission
WVIA educates, inspires, entertains and fosters citizenship, diverse cultures, and perspectives to nurture community.