Barbara Schaffer Bacon

Barbara Schaffer Bacon co-directs Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts that inspires, informs, promotes, and connects arts and culture as potent contributors to community, civic, and social change.  Currently she is also serving as interim vice president for Americans for the Arts Local Arts Advancement programs. Barbara has written, edited, and contributed to many publications including Civic Dialogue, Arts & Culture: Findings from Animating Democracy; Case Studies from Animating Democracy; Animating Democracy: The Artistic Imagination as a Force for Civic Dialogue.  She has served as a primary instructor for the Fundamentals and Advanced Local Arts Management seminars and was a contributor to Fundamentals of Local Arts Management and The Cultural Planning Work Kit. A consultant in program design and evaluation, Barbara has served as an adviser for state and national arts agencies and private foundations. She has delivered presentations and workshops nationally and internationally in Canada, Australia, and England. Barbara previously served as executive director of the Arts Extension Service at the University of Massachusetts. She is president of the Arts Extension Institute, Inc. Barbara served for 14 years on the Belchertown, MA school committee.  She was recently appointed by the Governor Deval Patrick to serve as a member of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.