A book all about you

"There are hundreds of eager young leaders ready to take the reins of the arts"

From Ian David Moss' blog Createquity, September 17, 2009

Edward Clapp's 20UNDER40 anthology, a publication that will feature twenty chapters from emerging leaders in the arts under 40 years of age, has received an eye-opening 304 responses to its recent call for proposals from 343 authors on five continents. This is, frankly, a pretty astounding yield for a project with no history, financial reward, or major institutional backing. From Clapp's email this afternoon:

Given the number of proposals before us, publication in 20UNDER40 can be equally compared to the acceptance rates of the world's most elite academic and cultural institutions.... I feel it is important for all of us-whatever our age or experience-to pause and reflect for a moment on the surge of interest from young arts professionals. What does it mean, what does it tell us that such a massive response has ensued from a simple, grassroots call to voice geared towards young and emerging professionals at this juncture in the evolution of the arts?

My answer: Clearly, the field has spoken. There are literally hundreds of eager young leaders ready to take the reins of the arts for the purpose of redirecting the field in a positive new direction-one that greatly differs from the methods of policy and practice we know today.

Young leaders have asked to be heard, and through this project and the residual conversations and actions that will emanate from its expanse, they will no longer be ignored. Clapp has set up a Facebook site to discuss the implications in more detail.

-Reprinted from "You've Cott Mail"