By Alexandra Urbanowski, Chief Executive Officer
As we wrap up the month of June, many of our arts organizations are closing fiscal years and getting ready to start the new year, and some are in the midst of summer seasons. What a good time to take a breath and attend to a little self-care and meditation. Our vibrant arts community, our rich tapestry of cultural programming, and the power of the arts to lead social change rely on passionate, creative, and hard-working individuals, individuals whom we need to cherish and nurture every day.
My mother was a leader in the field of integrating mindfulness into every day life. She was a partner with Jon Kabat-Zin in the founding of the Center for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction at the UMass Memorial Medical Center and taught meditation to lawyers, doctors, and professors across our country and in Europe. She meditated every day, and no matter where and when, always took that moment to breathe and recharge; and, as someone just reminded me yesterday, “We need to put on our own oxygen masks before helping others.” We need our artists, culture-bears, arts workers, and community leaders in top form for what comes next.
So let’s take a breath, for each other and for ourselves; the work of our cultural community is powerful and important.
I thank you for all you do — whether you are an artist, arts leader, culture-worker, volunteer, donor, policy-maker, teacher, student, audience member, or all of the above — you are part of the fabric — the web — of our local arts ecosystem.
With appreciation,
Alexandra
About Alexandra
Alexandra Urbanowski is CEO of SVCREATES, Silicon Valley’s preeminent arts service organization and local arts agency. SVCREATES builds the cultural sector’s capacity, raises the voices and visibility of local artists, and increases access to arts for high-need communities. Alexandra has spent her career leading non-profit organizations, community development projects, and cultural advancement initiatives across the county, including American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley, New Hampshire Public Radio, and San Jose Repertory Theatre. She currently serves on the Leadership Committee for the California Coalition of County Arts Agencies and is Vice Chair of the board at the School of Arts & Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. Alexandra is an alumna of Smith College and Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program. She is also an independent theater producer.
