Variations on PUTTING IT TOGETHER or What Does an Executive Director Do?

In this first of three blog posts, Executive Director Adam Adolfo talks about the Art of Making Art...

I’m often asked, what is it you do exactly? To be honest, there is no exact about it. As Executive Director for Artes de la Rosa I look out for both the fiscal and artistic future of the company. That’s a very broad and sweeping generalization, but it is also the most concise I can offer. I direct you to a song, Putting It Together, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It gives you the idea of what I do on any given day…

Art isn’t easy…
Even when you’re hot
Advancing Art is easy
Financing it is not!

A vision's just a vision if it's only in your head!
If no one gets to see it, it's as good as dead!
It has to come to life!

Artes de la Rosa is all about that… art coming to life. More specifically Latino art! Artes de la Rosa gives us a chance to experience worlds and cultures that lie deep in our imagination. It also gives a deeper glimpse into our own world. The arts are a uniquely human experience…and that humanity through artistry is what defines us. It is the artist who finds the soul of humanity and allows others to experience their own self discovery…their own humanity. That is not a right of our culture…it is a privilege. A privilege you get to be a part of when you take your seat at the Rose Marine Theater. ONLY at Artes de la Rosa can you be transported from the heated nights of Havana with a cat clawing on the tin roof, to the dark dangerous world of a Latin American prison where dictators rule. Only at Artes de la Rosa can you experience a piece of Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela without needing a passport.

Bit by bit, Putting it together
Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art
Every moment makes a contribution,
Every little detail plays a part.
Having just a vision's no solution,..
Everything depends on execution
Putting it together, that's what counts!

Vision. Vision is almost the easy part… almost. Before you can achieve vision you must construct the frame work upon which vision will hang. You construct a season, you construct a design team, you construct a production staff, and if you’re lucky you’re working with the best; you start with this team and you set off to ‘create a vision’. I have been extremely lucky! From our directors Yvonne Duque and Tammy Gomez to our administrative staff Maria Solano and Mark Alcala – and everyone in between – we have been fortunate enough to work with the best. But that’s just the start…all of it is just vision… getting the vision on stage is a whole other set of issues!

Ounce by ounce, putting it together
Small amounts, adding up to make a work of art.
First of all you need a good foundation,
Otherwise it's risky from the start.
Takes a little cocktail conversation,
But without the proper preparation,
Having just a vision's no solution,
Everything depends on execution...

The art of making art
Is putting it together, bit by bit.

Execution. Execution sounds wrong – and scary in the right context. This is both the fun and hard part of arts administration. The ‘cocktail conversation’ as a stepping stone for ‘funds for your foundation’. It is imperative for you to be out in the public making connections not only with artists and art administrators but more importantly art enthusiast, philanthropists, and benefactors. The sheer macrocosm of the number of people I meet at a single event is astounding and trying to keep names, positions, and relationships straight in the mind – let alone trying to cultivate them into fruitful long lasting partnerships – is an almost unnavigateable strait. But these individuals, INCLUDING YOU, are the most vital part of Artes de la Rosa. Did you know individual donor contributions make up a crucial part of Artes de la Rosa revenue? Ticket prices do not begin to cover the costs of venue, artists, designers and musicians. Individual donations are the foundation of what allows us to keep prices on our tickets so low. Low ticket prices are the key to our accessibility. That is an unwavering commitment that we are not willing to negotiate. Keep the prices low so that we can see new faces and create new fans while celebrating our old ones!

Link by link, making the connections
Drink by drink, taking every comment as it comes.
Learning how to play the politician
Like you play piano, bass and drums.
Otherwise you'll find your composition
Isn't gonna get much exhibition.


Part Two of Adam's post to come next week! Also be on the look out for a Casting Announcement for our Cuban inspired production of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF.