The Audacity of Relevance: Critical Conversations on the Future of Arts and Culture

A manifesto on the state of the non-profit arts sector and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity leaders have to redefine the business as an investment in our shared social purpose.

“The Audacity of Relevance isn’t just for arts leaders but for artists, philanthropists, and arts-loving audiences. It provides a modern look at our organizations and invites us to break the echo chambers we operate in. By forcing us to see the world differently, Alex Sarian asks us to rethink our purpose by leaning into our shared humanity.” — Sarah Arison, Trustee, MoMA

The arts and culture sector is in crisis—a crisis of relevance. Whether it’s grappling with dwindling audience sizes, shifting trends in philanthropy, or addressing social challenges, experts have been documenting this slow decline for decades.

At the core of Alex Sarian’s international career is the conviction that cultural organizations must embrace a greater civic purpose and build a new business model—one based on the social impact of the arts.

Throughout The Audacity of Relevance, Sarian engages in conversations with leaders from across industries to paint a potential future for arts organizations—a future built on measuring our sector’s success by how positively we can influence the many local communities that surround us.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned executive or are just beginning in your career—the principles and anecdotes in this book will inspire you to see the world of arts and culture for what it truly is: filled with endless possibilities for reinvention.

Alex Sarian is the president & CEO of Arts Commons, one of Canada’s foremost centres for the arts, where he leads the largest cultural infrastructure project in the country’s history. Alex was born in Toronto, raised in Buenos Aires, and spent eighteen years in New York City, most notably as a senior executive at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. With a background in education, he is deeply committed to making the transformative power of the arts accessible to all. For more information, visit www.alexsarian.com.