The Power of Dance: Measuring Impact Beyond Movement with Rachel Nace
ARTS Redefined with Angela Meleca
Release Date: 01/26/2025
When Words Disappear: Leading with DEI in Our DNA
ARTS Redefined with Angela Meleca
Across the country, DEI language is quietly being erased—from strategic plans to university websites. But if the words are gone, what remains? In this episode of ARTS Redefined, Angela Meleca sits down with a group of arts policy students from Miami University to explore what it means to lead with values when the language is no longer safe. Together, they reflect on how equity can live in actions, decisions, and institutional practices—even when the acronym disappears. This candid conversation moves beyond performative allyship and toward a deeper question: What does it truly mean to embed...
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This Will Change Arts Funding Forever
ARTS Redefined with Angela Meleca
If your organization serves 100 students, what happens to those students? In this episode, Alan Harrison, author of Scene Change, delivers a sobering truth: producing art is no longer enough. In a post-NEA world, funders will demand data, not anecdotes. We unpack: Why arts nonprofits are losing funding—and relevance The difference between teaching and educating What it means to become a movement instead of just a mission How to survive this shift by measuring impact in real-time This episode is for arts leaders, funders, and policymakers who know it’s time to stop justifying...
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Future-Proofing the Arts: Skills, Strategy, and Impact
ARTS Redefined with Angela Meleca
What does it take to future-proof the arts? In this episode of ARTS Redefined, Angela P. Meleca is joined by arts entrepreneur and professor Jeffrey Nytch to address the pressing need for new skills, models, and approaches to make a lasting impact. Angela and Jeffrey explore why arts organizations must move beyond adapting — and start leading — by getting proximate to the communities they serve, building strategic partnerships, and embracing bold programming. They discuss: Why transferable skills from the arts are critical to the innovation economy How creativity strengthens STEM...
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The Power of Perseverance and Community in the Arts
ARTS Redefined with Angela Meleca
In this episode of ARTS Redefined, Angela P. Meleca sits down with Wilma K. Mullet, Executive Director of the Tuscarawas Arts Partnership, for a powerful conversation about resilience, resourcefulness, and redefining what the arts mean to a community. Wilma shares the challenges and triumphs of leading a rural arts organization in Tuscarawas County, Ohio—from navigating funding limitations to building coalitions across sectors. They explore the vital role of public officials in supporting the arts, the importance of building trust, and how community can be a lifeline for artists and...
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Unleashing Creativity with Crayola: Victoria Lozano on Why It’s a Life Skill, Not an Extra
ARTS Redefined with Angela Meleca
What if creativity isn’t just something kids do—but something we all need to thrive? In this episode of ARTS Redefined, Angela Meleca is joined by Victoria Lozano, EVP of Marketing at Crayola. Together, they discuss why creativity is one of the most critical life skills we can nurture—not just in children, but across every profession. From reimagining Crayola’s brand to launching the global Crayola Creativity Week, Victoria shares how the company is helping to redefine how we think about the arts in education and beyond. Takeaways include: Creativity is a behavior, not just a talent ...
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There is no failure—only giving up. | Neno Littlewood
ARTS Redefined with Angela Meleca
In this episode of ARTS Redefined, Angela Meleca sits down with writer, creative mentor, and Rebel Writers Workshop founder Neno Littlewood for a refreshingly honest conversation about how we create, evolve, and keep going—even when life gets messy. From navigating ADHD and dyslexia to building a creative business and reshaping her personal identity, Neno shares how embracing her story—and the imperfect drafts along the way—became her greatest source of power. This is for every arts leader, creator, and nonprofit professional who’s ever felt stuck or sidelined by perfectionism,...
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Is Fundraising an Art? Matt Hugg on Creative Strategies for Arts Nonprofits
ARTS Redefined with Angela Meleca
Is it possible that arts fundraising is its own art form? In this episode of ARTS Redefined, Angela Meleca is joined by Matt Hugg—founder of Nonprofit.Courses and expert in nonprofit fundraising. Together, they challenge conventional approaches to development and explore how creativity isn’t just for the stage or the canvas—it’s the secret weapon in donor relationships, storytelling, and fundraising. If you're an arts leader tired of transactional fundraising and ready to connect more authentically with your supporters, this conversation is a must-listen. You’ll learn: Why...
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Turn Advocacy into Activism and Activism into Running for Office with Tom Tresser
ARTS Redefined with Angela Meleca
Are the arts once again under attack? In this powerful episode of ARTS Redefined, Angela Meleca sits down with Tom Tresser, a renowned civic educator, grassroots advocate, and tireless champion of democracy and creative freedom. Tom reveals why the arts and nonprofit sectors must urgently evolve from advocacy to activism—and why, ultimately, creative professionals must step up and run for office. Drawing from over 50 years of frontline experience, including the battle to save the NEA during the 1990s Culture Wars, Tom lays out practical, actionable strategies for artists, arts leaders, and...
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Why Arts Funding Is Disappearing – And What We Can Do About It
ARTS Redefined with Angela Meleca
What happens when the system designed to support the arts starts narrowing the door of opportunity? Josh Benson, Executive Director of the Marion Cultural and Civic Center, mural artist, and co-host of There’s No Business Like podcast, joins me to talk about the funding challenges facing arts organizations today. From shifting National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) directives to the financial struggles of the Kennedy Center, the landscape for arts funding is changing fast—often leaving rural and mid-sized organizations behind. In this episode, we cover: ✅ Why traditional funding...
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From Theatre to Corporate Success: How Arts Graduates Have the Ultimate Job Advantage
ARTS Redefined with Angela Meleca
We have raised a generation afraid to talk to people—hesitant to make a phone call, nervous about face-to-face interactions, and struggling with basic workplace communication. But here’s the thing: theatre and the performing arts have always been the ultimate training ground for real human connection. In this episode of ARTS Redefined, Angela Meleca sits down with Audrey Durbin, who made the surprising transition from theatre to corporate banking. They break down how the performing arts provide transferable skills that prepare graduates to hit the ground running in any industry. In This...
info_outlineHow can dance transform lives beyond the stage? In this episode of ARTS Redefined, Angela Meleca sits down with Rachel Nace, Artistic Director of Oyo Dance Company, to explore the profound impact of dance on individuals and communities. Rachel shares her journey of leading a diverse and inclusive dance company that focuses on social justice, emotional well-being, and storytelling through movement. Together, Angela and Rachel discuss the challenges of measuring the arts' intrinsic value, the importance of empathy and innovation, and why data is the future of arts funding.
Key Takeaways:
- How Oyo Dance Company is redefining the arts through diversity, inclusion, and emotional storytelling.
- The challenges of pay equity and funding in the dance world.
- Why measuring empathy, learning, and connection is critical for arts advocacy.
- The role of innovation in the arts and how it’s often misunderstood by funding agencies.
Don’t miss this insightful conversation about how dance connects us to humanity and why the arts deserve a seat at the table.
Connect with Oyo Dance Company:
Website: www.oyodancecompany.org
Facebook: Oyo Dance Company on Facebook
Instagram: @oyodancecompany
YouTube: Oyo Dance Company on YouTube
Next Public Performance: March 1st at CPAC, Downtown
Connect with Angela Meleca:
🌐 Website: www.melecacreative.com
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelapmeleca/
📧 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelapmeleca/
Follow Angela Meleca for practical tips and content on arts advocacy!