Spring Break
Newly appointed Steuer visits Drexel
Lydia Hryshchyshyn
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
The arts community in Philadelphia has gained a formidable ally in the form of Gary Steuer, newly appointed director of the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy. Mayor Michael Nutter reopened the unique cabinet position in July after being shut down in 2004 by former Mayor John Street. Steuer came to Drexel Nov. 13 to speak to the Arts Administration Graduate Association about his goals and experiences.
Steuer boasts an impressive resume that includes former vice president of Americans for the Arts, as well as many other positions with public policy making, politics, visual, fine and performing arts and arts real estate. "It really is a culmination of everything, all the things that I've been doing in my career are sort of threads that come together to make the fabric of what I'm doing in this job now," Steuer said about his past experiences aiding him with the new position.
Steuer's knowledge of such a wide range of organizations will allow him to more easily relate to the challenges facing the arts community here in Philadelphia.
Despite the current recession, Steuer is positive about the future of the arts scene in Philadelphia and boasts a laundry list of goals.
Some of his initiatives include increasing the effectiveness of offices for the impressive displays of public art around the city and strengthening the for-profit art business ability to attract collectors to the city.
One of the most interesting goals is to enhance art programs for children and youth - bringing a more holistic approach to art education. He feels that "Philly does have a little bit of an inferiority complex" about itself versus New York and he'd like to change this as well as some of what he views as "racial divides" in the art community.
With his extensive background in arts administration and his passion for his mandate in Philadelphia, Steuer was an ideal speaker for the AGAA and their new online students. Drexel's renowned Master of Science in Arts Administration program now offers an online learning option. The online learners traveled in from around the country to assemble with their on campus counterparts for a series of activities and meetings. After Steuer's presentation they were given the chance to ask questions about how they could bring his initiatives into their work and lives.
One of the most important suggestions Steuer had for young artists and creative types who want to help build a better art community was to "stay in Philly." Only by keeping the talent and the ideas here can his initiatives truly elevate Philadelphia higher in the greater art world.
He received a B.A. in politics and dramatic literature from New York University, attended NYU's Stern Graduate School of Business Administration, as well as NYU's M.A. program in Performing Arts Management.
Steuer boasts an impressive resume that includes former vice president of Americans for the Arts, as well as many other positions with public policy making, politics, visual, fine and performing arts and arts real estate. "It really is a culmination of everything, all the things that I've been doing in my career are sort of threads that come together to make the fabric of what I'm doing in this job now," Steuer said about his past experiences aiding him with the new position.
Steuer's knowledge of such a wide range of organizations will allow him to more easily relate to the challenges facing the arts community here in Philadelphia.
Despite the current recession, Steuer is positive about the future of the arts scene in Philadelphia and boasts a laundry list of goals.
Some of his initiatives include increasing the effectiveness of offices for the impressive displays of public art around the city and strengthening the for-profit art business ability to attract collectors to the city.
One of the most interesting goals is to enhance art programs for children and youth - bringing a more holistic approach to art education. He feels that "Philly does have a little bit of an inferiority complex" about itself versus New York and he'd like to change this as well as some of what he views as "racial divides" in the art community.
With his extensive background in arts administration and his passion for his mandate in Philadelphia, Steuer was an ideal speaker for the AGAA and their new online students. Drexel's renowned Master of Science in Arts Administration program now offers an online learning option. The online learners traveled in from around the country to assemble with their on campus counterparts for a series of activities and meetings. After Steuer's presentation they were given the chance to ask questions about how they could bring his initiatives into their work and lives.
One of the most important suggestions Steuer had for young artists and creative types who want to help build a better art community was to "stay in Philly." Only by keeping the talent and the ideas here can his initiatives truly elevate Philadelphia higher in the greater art world.
He received a B.A. in politics and dramatic literature from New York University, attended NYU's Stern Graduate School of Business Administration, as well as NYU's M.A. program in Performing Arts Management.
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