The Glass Art Society just announced that it is canceling its 2011 conference in Tucson, Arizona, based on its 'fiduciary responsibility'.
The reason for that financial worry, though, is political, and the political hot button is the severe new immigration law in Arizona. The key section of the email -
GAS is not boycotting the state of Arizona but made the decision to cancel the conference because the economics did not support going forward in this political climate. With a Latin American focus for this conference, the controversial issues in the state are particularly poignant. Whether glass artists south of the US border would come; whether GAS would be liable for things that could happen in Arizona for the Latino members; whether GAS could weather the negative economic impact to the organization that this issue could cause; whether in this economic climate the local committee could raise the money needed for the conference; were all issues that the Board needed to consider.
I do feel for them, since GAS is a largely apolitical organization (artistically clique-ish big time, but apolitical). This could not have been an easy decision for them. The tone of the email is one of shock and sadness, not political defiance. That seems about right. I wish them well.
They haven't posted anything on their website about this, but I will provide a link if and when that happens.
[update May 9, 2010 - From Glass Quarterly, an Interview with GAS Executive Director Pam Koss]
Posted by Tom at May 7, 2010 07:45 PM