Publications Additional Resources Robert Gard Lectures
Robert Gard Lecture Series
Robert Gard Lecture Celebrates Community Arts Movement
To honor a crucial pioneer in the community arts movement, the Robert Gard lecture was established in 1999 by Arts Extension Service. The first lecture also coincided with the 25th Anniversary of AES.
In 1973, Stan Rosenberg was inspired by Gard's work to create the Arts Extension Service on the model of Gard's program, the Arts Extension Division at the University of Wisconsin. Like Gard, Rosenberg sought to build stronger communities through the arts. AES still works in this university outreach, community development tradition.
Each year a distinguished leader who contributes significantly to the national community arts movement will be recognized as the Robert Gard Lecturer. The honor will go to someone who works in the Gard tradition and the AES mission to develop the arts in communities and community through the arts. The award is accompanied by an invitation to reflect upon a career of community arts development and a commission to write and present a lecture.
The purpose of the lecture is to honor and remember Robert Gard and his work, to recognize annually a contemporary leader who is advancing that work; to advance understanding of the history, goals, and methods of community arts development; and to inspire a new generation of community arts developers.
A Robert Gard Lecture Fund has been established to support this important work.
In 2010 there will be a celebration of Gard's 100th birthday. Get your bound copy of the Gard Lectures, in our Publications section: Robert Gard Lectures.
