Circus and Changing Realities 2020 — Circus Presenters Looking Forward

Jenni Taylor Swain: Jenni Taylor Swain is founder of Potluck Arts, a consultant, producer and presenter of imaginative and extraordinary arts events designed to integrate audiences. Eager to embrace inclusive audience development strategies and using her 26-year knowledge of multidisciplinary, movement-focused and new circus, she founded Potluck Arts and ran away with the contemporary circus. Her broad interest in the arts is reflected in her evolving role in the diverse arts community. She brings an insider’s perspective to the growing circus arts landscape along with a network of innovative and celebrated artists and organizations from around the world. Jenni began her tenure in the arts as a founding team member to build and program Walton Arts Center, Arkansas’ premier performing arts center. As Vice President of Programming she created and advanced mission-based strategies that defined the center’s aesthetic and education vision, a vision that continues to garner respect from the arts presenting field in North America and beyond. Most recently she has been actively involved in the international contemporary circus community through participation in Autopistes and Circus Incubator, international projects nurturing worldwide contemporary circus development and exchange. In addition, Jenni consuls and supports performing arts centers with research, planning and development of bookings, programming, and special projects.