Museums and Politics
Course Title: The Case for the Arts
Day & Time: Thursdays, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The value of the arts in society can be difficult to measure, rendering its influence within political and economic spheres complicated and prone to deprioritization. Yet, there are many who not just feel but know it is essential for maintaining and elevating the human condition of our times. As John F. Kennedy notes, "The life of the arts, far from being an interruption, a distraction, in the life of a nation, is very close to the center of a nation's purpose...and is a test of the quality of a nation's civilization." This course examines how artists, arts administrators, policy makers, scholars, and educators present their cases for the value of the arts in society.
Kojiro Umezaki
Kojiro Umezaki (梅崎 康二郎) is a shakuhachi player, composer, and media artist whose work bridges tradition and technology. A longtime member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble, he appears on multiple recordings including the Grammy Award–winning Sing Me Home and the documentary The Music of Strangers. His creative practice explores intercultural collaboration and real-time music systems, drawing inspiration from historic Silk Road traditions. Recent projects engage robotics, fabrication, and community work with youth on Northern Cheyenne lands. He holds a degree in electro-acoustic music from Dartmouth College.
