| Contents |
Introduction: Unlocking relevance -- 1. What is relevance? -- A walk on the beach -- Meaning, effort, bacon -- Something old, something new -- Two delusions about relevance -- A note on irrelevance -- 2. Outside in. -- People who don't normally show up -- Start at the front door -- Some doors are invisible -- Dumbing it down -- Whose room is this? -- The people in the room -- Go outside -- Inside-outsiders -- Otherizing outsiders -- Outsider guides -- Outside institutions -- Making room -- 3. Relevance and community. How do you define community? -- Finding your people -- Wants and needs -- Needs and assets -- Community-first program design -- Relevance for one -- Relevance for everyone -- Build a door or change the room? -- Building a bigger room -- 4. Relevance and mission. Steady in the storm -- A hunt for relevance -- Relevance is a moving target for institutions -- Relevance is a moving target for content -- You can make boring things relevant -- The ugliest painting on the block -- Proactive relevance -- Content versus form -- Old plays, new forms, new audiences -- Co-creating relevance -- Getting past the pretty fish -- One core, many doors -- 5. The heart of relevance. Part ex-con, part farmer, part queen -- Measuring relevance -- Transformative relevance -- Empathetic evangelists -- A great treasure. |
| Abstract |
"What do the London Science Museum, California Shakespeare Theater, and ShaNaNa have in common? They are all fighting for relevance in an often indifferent world. The Art of Relevance is your guide to mattering more to more people. You'll find inspiring examples, rags-to-relevance case studies, research-based frameworks, and practical advice on how your work can be more vital to your community. Whether you work in museums or libraries, parks or theaters, churches or afterschool programs, relevance can work for you. Break through shallow connection. Unlock meaning for yourself and others. Find true relevance and shine"--amazon.com. |
