Big Ideas, Deep Dives
SVMindshare is a new kind of roundtable that enlightens, inspires, and encourages. One that offers outside expertise, and practical tools and strategies for the issues most relevant to your work. Leaders in the arts need dedicated time to reflect and recharge with their peers in the field. SVMindshare meets regularly in small group discussion sessions to dive deep into the most pressing questions facing the cultural sector today. Over the course of the series, arts leaders develop invaluable new networks, better understanding of challenges across artistic disciplines, and increased confidence in their own leadership capacity.
What We Do
We facilitate a series of roundtable conversations devoted to high-level topics affecting cultural leaders' work, calling, and industry including strategic planning, success metrics, work and life balance, best practices, and arts advocacy.
Who We Serve
- Management-level nonprofit arts leaders (staff or board) seeking to strengthen their peer network and to play a role in the greater Santa Clara County arts community
- Collaborative thinkers committed to a culture of learning and sharing
- Preference given to representatives of current or recent SVCREATES grantee organizations
Why It’s Important
As established creative sector leaders retire and the arts nonprofit model is challenged by the forces of digital culture, demographic shifts, and the changing nature of “creative consumption,” it is vital to leverage local talent, prepare the sector for the next generation of audiences, navigate new economic realities, and bridge the past with the future. The critical role the arts play in our local communities has never been more evident, and an activated network of leaders with a common language will provide voice and visibility to the sector.
What’s Been Done
- Completed four year-long series of SVMindshare
- Served over 50 local arts leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds and artistic disciplines throughout Santa Clara County
- Enabled the formation of deep relationships, collaborative programming, advocacy, and peer support during challenging times and triumphs
SVMindshare Alums (2017-2021)
Andrew Lowd | Elizabeth Santana | Matt Casey |
Angela Shillace | Gordon Lee | Mattie Scariot |
Ann Watts | Heidi Lubin | Max Koknar |
Barbara Galiotto | James Williams | Moses Taylor |
Bobby Chastain | Joshua Lanam | Nadine Frush |
Bree von Faith | Karen Rapp | Nancy Bavor |
Charles Frost | Kim Mesa | Priya Das |
Cheryl Scales | Lauren Baines | Robert Pesich |
Chloe Crotzer | Lee Ann Payne | Sally Logothetti |
Christine Mendoza | Leigh Henderson | Shoko Michael |
Dalia Rawson | Lihong Zhang | Tamara Liu |
David Brown | Louis Stone-Collonge | Tony Ferrigno |
Dawn Murakami | Lucy Larson | Vinita Sud Belani |
Doug Brook | Mary Beth Anderson |
What’s Next
- Provide SVMindshare for 15 selected local arts leaders in the 2021-22 cohort. The 2021-22 SVMindshare Cohort includes:
- Ami Davis, NUMU | New Museum Los Gatos
- Annalisa Tkacheff, Silicon Valley Shakespeare
- Carman Gaines, Local Color SJ
- Kristina Nakagawa, Vivace Youth Chorus
- Patrick Klein, Palo Alto Players
- Rosalinda Sanchez, Audacity Performing Arts Project
- Sinjin Jones, The Pear Theatre
- Sonja Wohlgemuth, Music for Minors
- Stacey Crespo Kellogg, San Jose Walls
- Trami Cron, Chopsticks Alley Art
- Trudy Levy, FUSEpresents
- Verónica Meza, Teatro Nahual
- Wilson Alexander Aguilar, The Choral Project
- Applications for the 2022-23 SVMindshare program will be available in Summer 2022. Please contact Alyssa Erickson, SVCREATES Program Manager with any questions, alyssae@svcreates.org.
"Highly relevant, both personally
and professionally."
"I got just what I hoped for
ideas on how to do my job better
and excellent professional
connections."
"The fact that this program is
tailored to arts executives
separates it from other
leadership programs."
"Alyssa Byrkit (program facilitator)
is a gift: thoughtful, responsive,
compassionate, touching us
spiritually as well as intellectually.
Leaving each meeting feeling
inspired to keep going, and
sometimes with a new thing to try,
has been most helpful."
"The most powerful tool SVCREATES can provide is the supportive network you have built for all local nonprofit arts organizations. You keep us regularly connected, allowing us time and space to listen and learn from our colleagues. Maintaining this unwavering and supportive network is invaluable."