Making Art Work

Mac was the feature speaker at the Akron Rotary Club’s first meeting of 2026. His 15-minute presentation, Making Art Work: Repositioning Creativity for Success focused on three pillars of creativity:

What ART is compared different value systems for the arts, exploring how a Leonardo Da Vinci painting relates to a banana taped to a wall relates to to a children’s drawing on a refrigerator. Mac discussed the history of advertising, synaesthesia, and the role art can play in affecting change.

What success MEANS looked at the life of creative professionals and the challenges of leadership. Mac shared our methodology and findings from several community collaborative projects, and encouraged attendees to consider what return on investment looks like in the arts and how that impacts diverse ecosystems.

The third and final segment of the presentation focussed on How YOU can reposition creativity; an inspiring call to action that invited attendees to consider What is the most beautiful thing you have ever experienced? and What change would you most like to see in this community? The presentation concluded with reflections on how you will know repositioning creativity has worked.

Making Art Work: Repositioning Creativity for Success was a wonderful way to start the year. This is a presentation and subject we look forward to sharing and building on in the future.