THE AUDACITY OF RELEVANCE Critical Conversations on the Future of Arts and Culture

Author/narrator Alex Sarian is the CEO and president of Calgary's Arts Commons, which houses six resident companies and hosts 2,000 events per year. Well delivered and thoughtfully paced, this provocative audiobook is a manifesto on rethinking the role of the performing arts. He discusses means and methods for reforming the civic, educational, and social roles of arts venues. He converses with Indigenous leaders, arts execs, architects, and business thinkers on how to make the performing arts more people-centric and audience directed. Two novel ideas: Arts Commons built a ramp as an entrance for all, not just those in wheelchairs, and to honor First Nations people, renamed a theater lobby "a lodge." This audiobook is a meaningful look at the future of the performing arts. A.D.M. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2025]