When we left New York, we took a whole stack of worksheets, several pieces of butcher paper, and three mini-DV videos home with us, and we got to work organizing the data we had gathered.

Why do you need art? A selection of participant responses... To reveal myself, to create, to communicate, to keep balance, to keep life interesting. Something beyond the 9 to 5. No rules. Compelled since birth. Faith. Communion. Keeps me moving, allows me to be my true self. I have no other marketable skills. Self expression. Contribute to society. When I don't have art I get depressed. It's a dialogue, an angry expression, my way of changing the world. To launch out of the ordinary, ease the essential loneliness. To elevate my life to the spiritual. An outlet for the voices in my head. For guidance and answers to questions I have about life. To confront the issues in the world that matter. To think creatively about problems and solutions. Laugh, have fun. I don't need it — I want it. I enjoy it. There are pieces of myself I can't know without it. Because when I'm hungry, I eat. Art needs me.

How's that going? A selection of participant responses... 75% real world, 25% art. Enough to get by. Slowly but surely &mdash a learning process. Hard! Finding a community I felt safe in was key. Comme ci, comme ça. Very well! The vision is going well &mdash it's the implementation, execution, and distribution that need work. I'm frustrated with the people I collaborate with and looking for a more solid foundation. I'm in a managerial role and haven't been creative in a long time — can I still do it? Was I ever any good in the first place? Hard to motivate. My modes of expression are finally coming to real maturity. Ain't been to church in a long time. I'm telling stories I want to tell the way I want to tell them. For the first time in my life I've taken control of managing my art. Very artistically fulfilled at work and home, but missing spontaneous artistic collaboration with outside friends. I've had some personal success but I have serious doubts about whether the arts can be truly effective in the ways I want them to. Still getting up each day. Strong desire to be part of a larger conversation. Procrastination / Epiphany... rinse, repeat. One day at a time.

How can you be a resource to other artists? Participants made it known that they are available as actors, directors, filmmakers, writers, designers, web and software developers, composers, audience members, business managers, idea-bouncers, musicians, promoters, critics, vocal coaches, equipment loaners, space finders, editors, copywriters, tax consultants, singers, cooks, and... aerialists. As in acrobatics in the sky.

Breakout sessions. Wow. To tell you the truth, we covered a lot of material that day. If you want the full breakdown, we're happy to give it to you! Drop us a line, and we'll hook you up.

Want to have an ARTSummit in your city? Let's discuss it!