Additional information including my biography, education, employment, and more.
BIOGRAPHY
Adam Erickson is a nonprofit leader, cultural producer, artist, and advocate — and he was also a member of ArtPlace America’s leadership team from 2016 to 2020. ArtPlace was a national collaboration of foundations, federal agencies, and financial institutions working to position arts and culture as a core sector of community planning and development. Adam directed the organization’s movement building work in the field of creative placemaking, and its strategic communications supporting the 285 communities across the United States in which ArtPlace invested over $150 million.
Previously, Adam managed The Aspen Institute Arts Program, where he brought together leading voices from a variety of sectors, including arts, philanthropy, government, business, and education with the purpose of accelerating social change, service, and innovation in the United States. Adam and his team presented over 500 speakers in 150 events — including panels, roundtables, strategy groups, conferences, film screenings, exhibitions, performances, and education initiatives — advancing public discourse and the free exchange of ideas.
Adam is a founding member of Vital Little Plans, an artist collective and giving circle, and he teaches in the Arts Management and Entrepreneurship program at The New School in New York City. He received his BA in art history and studio art from Bethel University and his MFA in visual arts from Lesley University. Originally from the Twin Cities, Minnesota, he began his career at Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul.
Previously, Adam managed The Aspen Institute Arts Program, where he brought together leading voices from a variety of sectors, including arts, philanthropy, government, business, and education with the purpose of accelerating social change, service, and innovation in the United States. Adam and his team presented over 500 speakers in 150 events — including panels, roundtables, strategy groups, conferences, film screenings, exhibitions, performances, and education initiatives — advancing public discourse and the free exchange of ideas.
Adam is a founding member of Vital Little Plans, an artist collective and giving circle, and he teaches in the Arts Management and Entrepreneurship program at The New School in New York City. He received his BA in art history and studio art from Bethel University and his MFA in visual arts from Lesley University. Originally from the Twin Cities, Minnesota, he began his career at Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul.
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts, Visual Arts, 2020
Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
Certificate, Basic Conflict Mediation, 2017
New York Peace Institute, New York, NY
Certificate, Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy, 2016
University of Pennsylvania and National Arts Strategies, Philadelphia, PA
Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship, Drawing and Digital Media, 2006
New York Center for Art & Media Studies, New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts, Art History and Studio Art, 2005
Bethel University, St. Paul, MN
Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
Certificate, Basic Conflict Mediation, 2017
New York Peace Institute, New York, NY
Certificate, Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy, 2016
University of Pennsylvania and National Arts Strategies, Philadelphia, PA
Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship, Drawing and Digital Media, 2006
New York Center for Art & Media Studies, New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts, Art History and Studio Art, 2005
Bethel University, St. Paul, MN
EMPLOYMENT
The New School, New York, NY
College of Performing Arts, Arts Management and Entrepreneurship Program, Part-Time Faculty, 2019-Present
ArtPlace America, New York, NY
Director of Communications, 2016-2020
The Aspen Institute, New York, NY
Arts Program, Senior Program Manager, 2013-2016
New York Center for Art & Media Studies, New York, NY
Center Coordinator, 2012-2013
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Assistant to the Chief Curator, 2011-2012
McNally Smith College of Music, St. Paul, MN
Executive Assistant to the President, 2007-2011
College of Performing Arts, Arts Management and Entrepreneurship Program, Part-Time Faculty, 2019-Present
ArtPlace America, New York, NY
Director of Communications, 2016-2020
The Aspen Institute, New York, NY
Arts Program, Senior Program Manager, 2013-2016
New York Center for Art & Media Studies, New York, NY
Center Coordinator, 2012-2013
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Assistant to the Chief Curator, 2011-2012
McNally Smith College of Music, St. Paul, MN
Executive Assistant to the President, 2007-2011
SPEAKING AND TEACHING
2021
Arts and Community Seminar, guest lecturer, Lesley University, College of Art + Design, Cambridge, MA, January 16.
2020
Civic Practice Symposium: Reimagining Community Futures Through Arts and Philanthropy, host and panelist, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, January 5.
MFA Visual Arts Residency, visiting critic, Lesley University, College of Art + Design, Cambridge, MA, January 7-12.
Artists and Community Change, faculty, The New School, College of Performing Arts, Arts Management and Entrepreneurship MA Program, New York, NY, September-December.
Giving Circles: We Can All Be Philanthropists, host and panelist, ArtPlace Annual Summit, Virtual, October 28.
2019
Artists and Community Change, faculty, The New School, College of Performing Arts, Arts Management and Entrepreneurship MA Program, New York, NY, September-December.
Creative Placemaking Tools and Resources, instructor, Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit | Midwest, Cincinnati, OH, October 11.
Creative Placemaking Tools and Resources, instructor, National Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit, Phoenix, AZ, November 15.
2018
Interview: Jon Boogz and Lil Buck, session chair and moderator, The Aspen Challenge: Dallas, Dallas, TX, January 31.
ArtPlace Deep Dive: The Future of Our Communities, session chair and panelist, Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit | West, Denver, CO, April 6.
Kibel Gallery Talk: Creative Placemaking in Context, session chair and panelist, in conjunction with the exhibition 10 Sectors, 10 Solutions: Artists and Community Change, University of Maryland, School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, College Park, MD, October 29.
Artists, Institutions, and Community Change: An Introduction to Creative Placemaking, guest lecturer, New York University, Visual Arts Administration MA Program, New York, NY, December 11.
2016
Creative Young Leaders Alliance: San Francisco, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute and Common Sense Media, San Francisco, CA, January 30-31.
Creative Young Leaders Alliance: New York, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute and Lincoln Center Education, New York, NY, March 11-13.
Creative Young Leaders Alliance: Chicago, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute and Columbia College, Chicago, IL, April 8-10.
2015
Creative Young Leaders Alliance: Aspen, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute, Aspen, CO, June 26-July 1.
Aspen Seminar: National Service, The Arts, and the Good Society, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute and Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, PA, September 8-9.
2014
Creative Young Leaders Alliance: Aspen, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute, Aspen, CO, June 25-29.
Arts and Community Seminar, guest lecturer, Lesley University, College of Art + Design, Cambridge, MA, January 16.
2020
Civic Practice Symposium: Reimagining Community Futures Through Arts and Philanthropy, host and panelist, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, January 5.
MFA Visual Arts Residency, visiting critic, Lesley University, College of Art + Design, Cambridge, MA, January 7-12.
Artists and Community Change, faculty, The New School, College of Performing Arts, Arts Management and Entrepreneurship MA Program, New York, NY, September-December.
Giving Circles: We Can All Be Philanthropists, host and panelist, ArtPlace Annual Summit, Virtual, October 28.
2019
Artists and Community Change, faculty, The New School, College of Performing Arts, Arts Management and Entrepreneurship MA Program, New York, NY, September-December.
Creative Placemaking Tools and Resources, instructor, Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit | Midwest, Cincinnati, OH, October 11.
Creative Placemaking Tools and Resources, instructor, National Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit, Phoenix, AZ, November 15.
2018
Interview: Jon Boogz and Lil Buck, session chair and moderator, The Aspen Challenge: Dallas, Dallas, TX, January 31.
ArtPlace Deep Dive: The Future of Our Communities, session chair and panelist, Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit | West, Denver, CO, April 6.
Kibel Gallery Talk: Creative Placemaking in Context, session chair and panelist, in conjunction with the exhibition 10 Sectors, 10 Solutions: Artists and Community Change, University of Maryland, School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, College Park, MD, October 29.
Artists, Institutions, and Community Change: An Introduction to Creative Placemaking, guest lecturer, New York University, Visual Arts Administration MA Program, New York, NY, December 11.
2016
Creative Young Leaders Alliance: San Francisco, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute and Common Sense Media, San Francisco, CA, January 30-31.
Creative Young Leaders Alliance: New York, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute and Lincoln Center Education, New York, NY, March 11-13.
Creative Young Leaders Alliance: Chicago, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute and Columbia College, Chicago, IL, April 8-10.
2015
Creative Young Leaders Alliance: Aspen, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute, Aspen, CO, June 26-July 1.
Aspen Seminar: National Service, The Arts, and the Good Society, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute and Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, PA, September 8-9.
2014
Creative Young Leaders Alliance: Aspen, seminar moderator, organized by The Aspen Institute, Aspen, CO, June 25-29.
PUBLISHED ARTWORK
Aspen Executive Seminar: Leadership, Values, and the Good Society. Queenstown: The Aspen Institute, 2020. Cover image and frontispiece.
Aspen Executive Seminar: Leadership, Values, and the Good Society. Queenstown: The Aspen Institute, 2019. Cover image and frontispiece.
Aspen Executive Seminar: Leadership, Values, and the Good Society. Queenstown: The Aspen Institute, 2018. Cover image and frontispiece.
Aspen Executive Seminar: Leadership, Values, and the Good Society. Queenstown: The Aspen Institute, 2017. Cover image and frontispiece.
Todd Breyfogle, ed. The Great Conversation. Queenstown: The Aspen Institute, 2015. Cover image and frontispiece.
Aspen Executive Seminar: Leadership, Values, and the Good Society. Queenstown: The Aspen Institute, 2019. Cover image and frontispiece.
Aspen Executive Seminar: Leadership, Values, and the Good Society. Queenstown: The Aspen Institute, 2018. Cover image and frontispiece.
Aspen Executive Seminar: Leadership, Values, and the Good Society. Queenstown: The Aspen Institute, 2017. Cover image and frontispiece.
Todd Breyfogle, ed. The Great Conversation. Queenstown: The Aspen Institute, 2015. Cover image and frontispiece.
Photo courtesy First Peoples’ Fund