Bolz Center for Arts Administration Director Andrew Taylor was part of the leadership team for a year-long exploration hosted by the American Assembly. The issues surrounding information technology, arts, and intellectual property were the focus of the initiative, which included two small leadership roundtables in 2001, and a full-scale American Assembly meeting in February 2002.

Intellectual Property (IP) rights have been a driving force for the creation of new cultural works, and the innovation of arts, cultural, and entertainment distribution systems. The rapid pace and broad reach of digital and Internet technologies have challenged our traditional ways of understanding these rights.

These three events took different approaches to exploring the issues of Intellectual Property in the arts and culture. The February 2001 event gathered leaders from many cultural disciplines to identify how IP issues affected the various creative arts. The April 2001 event brought together a diverse range of businesses and organizations to discuss the dynamics and implications of business models that trade in IP products and byproducts.

The process culminated in a full-scale American Assembly meeting in February 2002, drawing 67 leaders from a broad range of interests—from academia, the nonprofit and commercial arts, foundations, media companies, and other specializations.

Reports from these events were published by the American Assembly, and can be found in electronic form on their web site.

Founded in 1950 by Dwight D. Eisenhower, the American Assembly seeks to explore, define, and advanced informed awareness of important issues in U.S. Policy.

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