The abstract, everywhere-and-nowhere space

of the “global art world” actually consists of thousands of local

artists and local arts organizations that are building bridges with

other localities by tapping into common human experiences. How

can local artists and arts organizations, especially those with limited

budgets, create these types of connections with localities

both near and far-flung? This was a crucial question of a keynote speech, “How Do the Arts Appeal to Local Crowds in a Globalized World?” delivered by The Asia Society’s vice president for global arts programming Boon Hui Tan at Zócalo/Irvine Foundation conference, “What Can the World Teach California About Arts Engagement?” on June 25, 2017 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.