In reading this blog entry two thoughts came to mind.  I was reminded of conversations we had during the fellows class of 04-05 about this very subject.  One of my colleagues who lives and works in Indonesia was pondering how to address earned income and individual donors in a culture where neither was the norm.  In fact, the idea of charging for performance would have been such an anathema to the members of her village that she was sure it would backfire.  But then she told me she was thinking about trying to work within the cultural practice of women's giving circles (it had a different name I just don't remember it).  She said that women in the village met once a month to talk and share and put small amounts of money into a pot which they decided each month would be given to one of them to use for some important purpose.  Her thought was that perhaps she could take this idea of cultural preservation and performance and put it within that cultural construct to begin a form of individual giving to support the dance community.

The other thought I had was about being in Kenya last year.  In Nairobi at the Godown Arts Centre and the Phoenix Theater and in Mombasa at the Little Theater Club and Alliance Francaise where I met incredibly vibrant, talented, innovative, passionate artists.  Whatever they did or didn't have to work with, they had one serious thing in common - an abundance of brilliant ideas and the ability to make magic happen on all kinds of levels.  I would love love love to be a part of making resources happen for the artists I met.  So I am super glad you have someone there at the Kennedy Center learning from all that you have to offer!  Which is a lot!  kim