As 2011 comes to a close I find myself working on the MN State Arts Board Grant. Specifically I have been working on the narrative portion. It's an opportunity to really reflect on the trials and challenges of this past year. It's also a major reminder that there have been a lot of successes. And, perhaps even more importantly, that nothing at all is permanent.
In Seth Godin's (marketer and change guru) blog today he had a quote that struck me as an appropriate mantra for 2011: "The only standard is impermanence."
How true that has been for this past year at the Southern. Things that seemed sacrosanct a year or two ago, processes and positions we never would have touched, were all up for grabs as our preceptions and priorities were shifted in the cataclysm.
And now that the winds have calmed we are left rebuilding. Probably the greatest lesson I can take from the turmoil of 2011 is to keep an eye on what I'm making, but keep an eye on the horizon. To be ready to shift what I'm builidng because the world around me is changing. To quote one of my wife's favorite songwriters Ani DiFranco "what doesn't bend, breaks".
At the 2011 Southern Exposure Fundraiser, Patrick Scully, long time supporter of the Southern and consummate artist, eloquently spoke of the Southern as "a pirate ship" in the Twin Cities performance scene. A place that filled a niche for those groups that didn't want to do it the way everyone else was. I loved this metaphor, and yet in some ways I think Patrick may have been more prophetic than historic in his account.
The Southern in many ways had become stagnant in it's travels, rooted in the way things had been, creating not a vessel that could navigate waters, but a fortress that tried to withstand the coming storms of change. Now though, we are rebuilding, we have taken what we can salvage and are rebuilding. And I think Patrick's words will help us see that the blueprint for the Southern's future is not in brick and mortar, but in wood and sail.
I envision and organization that, like a good vessel, sails the seas exploring new lands, docking at strange ports, taking on exotic travelers and exciting opportunities, seeking out adventure and risk, and ultimately challenging the status quo of how things have been done in the past.
2012 is the land of opportunity for the Southern. We have our heading, time to set sail.
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We had an amazing variety of events in the space. Paint, flim, ballet, books, art, speeches, quotes, inspiration, health care, you name it we probably saw it this past week. Such a creative use of the space in such a short time.
We are so lucky that this space remains and I am so grateful to the community for bringing such a plethora of amazing ideas into the space.
Thank you.
]]>Stay tuned for the announcement of an upcoming fundraiser that's sure to be amazing!
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And Hip Hop
And More Yoga
All benefiting the Southern Theater.
Head over to our fundraiser page to see all the deatils for this awesome day of Mind, Body, Spirt, and Voice.
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On Saturday Oct 8th participants will be able to explore body, mind and voice in a day of balance and spiritual harmony.
We'll have more details up on our site soon. In the meantime check out mokshayogaminneapolis.com for information about Moksha and the work they are doing in Minneapolis.
Huge thanks to Phil Doucette for approaching the Southern with the awesome opportunity.
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We are excited to launch our fundraisers page which will highlight fundraising events for the Southern Theater. We may change the name of the page when we start to program events that are not specifically fundraisers.
We added a Google+ to the site down on the bottom right. If you are not using Google+ no worries you can still click the button to support our digital existence.
Lastly, we have some big updates that we'll roll out this week:
- A booking page (with prices and details on booking the space)
- Video walkthrough of the Southern Theater
- Email Signup form on our About Us Page
- Downloadable files for using the Southern
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Some of the features of the website include:
A Calendar of Events: here you'll find all the exciting things happening in the coming months at the Southern. From dance to theatre to music, events to weddings, the Southern is an amazing space to behold, perform in and enjoy. Come back to this page often to see what else is happening at the Southern Theater.
About us: Our mission, who we are, our board of directors. Here you'll find out about the southern. We'll be adding an additional page soon with some history and images of the Southern itself. Perhaps even a vitural tour.
Journal: a chance for us to talk to YOU: our fans. We'll update as regularly as we can (with the quite booked schedule we look to be very busy). But let us know what you think, comment on our posts and give us ideas for how you use (or how you want to use) the website. We appreciate the feedback.
Request info: are you interested in booking the southern? Fill out the form on the right side of any page and we'll get back to you with info on booking.
SUPPORT!: we NEED your support. As a non-profit organization a portion of our annual budget is through generous contributions from yourself and countless others. We use that money to provide access to our space for as many artists and individuals as possible. We have some exciting programs coming down the pipe so your contribution is helping to create the foundation for ALL of our future work. Any amount helps so consider a donation today.
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