I now see myself as a “budding advocate” and “future lobbyist” speaking more clearly about the need for public programming, positive media, investment in arts, technology and media, support of youth and diversity.

Blogs, wikis, and networks like Facebook and Twitter have certainly opened up a space for rapid exchange of ideas—for some people. But when forty percent of people in the United States don’t have Internet access (a number that can be compounded by the even greater global digital divide), we find that the “commons” is hardly a commons at all—but actually a very small, elite minority.

As Anne Pasternak, President and Artistic Director of Creative Time, accepted the NAMAC Award for Outstanding Organization, we were inspired by her words and asked her if we could share her notes with the broader NAMAC network since they really capture what we are doing as a field.

The time is now. If we don't fully own the absolute necessity to change how we've all been working, we won't be working -- and we won't have the illuminating, inspiring, transforming films that we now enjoy. It's your choice, but action is required.

In the last decade, we have seen an explosion in the use of the Internet to create art, promote the arts, advocate for the arts, build community through the arts, and more.  Our sector’s ability to participate in the Web 2.0 cultural shift is due in large part to our ability to access any tool hosted on the Internet with the same ease as any other Web user. 

One of my main goals in attending CommonWealth was to challenge my thinking about the future of media arts, especially in the context of film festivals and engaging audiences with moving image arts. With this same spirit I intend to offer here a creative and highly drinkable brew (with more than a few analogies on tap!). By expanding our thinking, even in seemingly inebriated directions, I believe we can get closer to the next great ideas for better serving our missions.