On October 30th, I was honored to attend LA Convergence a one-day conference presented by Arts4LA at the Skirball Cultural Center. Being new to LA and a longtime arts advocate for WNY’s arts councils the topics of the day were near and dear to my heart.   The Excellence & Engagement break-out panel was indeed excellent as it not only brought LA’s top arts administrators, educators and public artists to the table, the newly elected city Comptroller was there!  A rare instances to have the decision makers that matter listen to the arts community hot topics and share their thoughts on the matter.

“Excellence & Engagement,” moderated by Claire Peeps Judy Baca, SPARC The Honorable Ron Galperin, Controller, City of Los Angeles Laura Zucker, Los Angeles County Arts Commission Steve Venz, Quincy Jones Elementary School.  Over the course of the session some very heartwarming stories and hard-hitting facts were shared by each of the panelists.  Here’s my collection of high points raised during the discussion through some select tweets and my own ‘artnerdy’ anecdotes!

“Excellence measured by objectives.” @lazucker @Arts4LA #ConvergeLA — LA Arts Commission (@LACountyArts) October 29, 2013

Steve Venz, Principal at Quincy Jones: we noticed that arts promote positive behavior and school attendance. #convergela — Jennifer Letscher (@USPacRimGrrl) October 29, 2013

Great #ConvergeLA Q via #bansky (of all ppl!) why so many artists prepared to suffer for art career but not prepared to learn to draw?
— Lauren M Albrecht (@LaurenMAlbrecht) October 29, 2013

Not all #publicengagement is created equal via @lazucker of @LACountyArts #ConvergeLA

— Lauren M Albrecht (@LaurenMAlbrecht) October 29, 2013

New Arts Comm technical assistance workshops in public engagement? Whose in? #ConvergeLA @lazucker @sofiaklatzker — LA Arts Commission (@LACountyArts) October 29, 2013

@MobileMuralLab is #excellent at bringing the arts to the public per @lazucker #ConvergeLA #startup #artsLA #publicengagement — Lauren M Albrecht (@LaurenMAlbrecht) October 29, 2013

#convergeLA how do we foster communities to be agents of change not recipients?

— Sofia Klatzker (@sofiaklatzker) October 29, 2013

HS students say curriculum is not relevant to real world. #linkedlearning is expanding rapidly to deal w/this. #artsintegration #convergela

— Arts for All (@laArts4All) October 29, 2013

RT @terencemcf: #convergela @lazucker recommends this report from @hammer_museum and @machineproject http://t.co/q9ZX98ZSI8 #ConvergeLA — Wendy Hsu (@wendyfhsu) October 29, 2013

Awesome questions from Venice Arts Commission about what the city can do to aid in artistic beautification of LA #ConvergeLA — Lauren M Albrecht (@LaurenMAlbrecht) October 29, 2013

#ConvergeLA @RonGalperin making the case for the City of LA to invest in the arts. engagement/excellence panel. pic.twitter.com/ZCVCicW5Pr

— danielle brazell (@dbrazell1) October 29, 2013

“Systemic change is happening because artists are working differently” Judy Baca of SPARC at #convergela

— Rick Noguchi (@RickNoguchi) October 29, 2013

“Everything I need to know as an arts administrator I learned as an artist.” @LACountyArts @lazucker #ConvergeLA

— Bettina Korek (@bettina_korek) October 29, 2013