The first reader of Tending the Perennials wrote: “Finally, we have the 21st century Joseph Campbell we need.” If you remove the perennial actions and inquiries of art and religion from their institutional identities, you start living a personal religion. Creating a life guided and fueled by the verbs of art and spirituality instead of their nouns changes everything—because you change the way you attend to what unfolds throughout the day. Don’t expect a cerebral lecture—Eric Booth experientially engages audiences (as does the book) and activates artistry in listening and discovering ideas to take away and use.
In 2015 Eric Booth was given the nation’s highest award in arts education, and was named one of the 25 most influential people in the arts in the U.S. He began as a Broadway actor, and became a businessman (his company became the largest of its kind in the U.S. in 7 years), and author of seven books, the most recent is Tending the Perennials: The Art and Spirit of a Personal Religion, which is a companion book to his bestseller The Everyday Work of Art. He has been on the faculty of Juilliard (12 years), Tanglewood (5 years), The Kennedy Center (20 years), and Lincoln Center Education(41 years), and serves as a consultant for many arts organizations (including seven of the ten largest U.S. orchestras), cities, states and businesses around the U.S. and world. A frequent keynote speaker, he founded the International Teaching Artist Collaborative and keynoted UNESCO’s first world arts education conference. Visit him online at ericbooth.net.
Presider: Monica Weiss
Shared Charity: Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV)
Sunday Platform is our most important and long-standing community event. These gatherings educate, stimulate personal growth, inspire reflection and action, and strengthen our community. Sunday meetings usually begin with music, followed by greetings and a talk given by a Society Leader, member, or guest. Platforms cover a variety of topics that reflect current events, pressing social issues, and Ethical Culture philosophy. A collection basket is passed and money is shared between the Society and a charity selected for that day. While contributions are always appreciated, Sunday meetings are free and open to the public. Each Sunday meeting is followed by a luncheon and social hour.
To view previous Sunday Platform addresses and interviews, visit the Ethical NYC YouTube channel.
