Laura Sievert is the Executive Director of Arts Quincy: America’s First Arts Council. She has a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Missouri and undergraduate degree from University of Iowa. She is the founder of TEDxQuincy and a past speaker at TEDxDecaturPublicLibrary, and a speaker at the National Arts Marketing Project for Arts for Veterans. She is an avid volunteer and sits on the boards of directors for various nonprofits, is on the executive committee for Local Arts Network of Illinois, and is featured on several arts podcasts including Art NXT Level. She is married with two great kids and loves to ride bikes and play trumpet and French horn.
Laura Sievert, Executive Director of Arts Quincy
Talk Summary: Stop Settling for Bronze: Curating Our Public Art for Positive Change
Public art is having an historic moment. As bronze statues of confederate generals and slave holders come crashing down, the United States is finally grappling with how art in public spaces shapes perception and leaves people, especially women and people of color, out of the public narrative. Laura Sievert, executive director of America’s First Arts Council, suggests that it’s not just statuary of history’s villains that may need a wrecking ball, but perhaps some of its heroes as well. When we move past statues of history’s “great men,” we can make momentous investment in creating new artwork. Public art can help us grapple with the historical wrongs that our nation has not yet looked squarely in the eye. It can nurture healing conversations. And most importantly, new public art can shape a narrative for the United States- a story that fosters inclusivity and innovation and moves forward with more equity for all marginalized communities.
