Immigration, migration, mobility, racial and ethnic fusion—historically and today, shifting demographics are a profound reality in U.S. cities and towns. These shifts transform every level of community life, from decisions about community priorities and public policy to the way we as citizens relate to one another. It is in this environment that we make our cities creative and viable. The arts play a major role. They are stimulus for imagination and innovation, a proven platform for community building, an engine for economic development, and a vehicle for diverse cultural expression. The challenge for us as arts leaders is to activate the full power of our community’s cultural wealth. Throughout the convention, we will explore opportunities for cultural development in the changing environments of cultural democracy. In sessions and through arts experiences, we will contribute to and benefit from lively exchanges about the implications of demographic trends, funding patterns, promising practices, and expanding influence. Milwaukee is a bold collection of cultures, creativity, and cool that is leveraging it all to regenerate and build its future. With a name meaning “gathering place by the waters,” Milwaukee provides the perfect backdrop to this confluence of arts leadership. For more information, CLICK HERE.