Meet Matt Carney | Artist, Non-Profit Executive & Arts Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Carney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I’ve never been comfortable being comfortable. Riding the edge of the cusp between comfort and resistance positions you to build resilience and keep the learning process at the forefront of your experience. The experience of COVID19 puts this practice into ‘normal’ operations. Businesses literally cannot do what they have always done. Risk taking now is inspiring innovation in all aspects from planning to implementation. Risk to me is like following spontaneity and serendipitous moments. At times it may be difficult to trust, but awareness of those moment of opportunity lead you to places you couldn’t have imagined.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
To become a dancer you have to put your blinders on, focus on nothing else, and embody the art form. On one hand, everyone is a dancer. Dance is everywhere. We were born to move and with our heartbeat and the the drum, we all have an natural capacity to get our groove on. On the other hand, to be a professional concert dancer it takes years of training your instrument and a daily effort to find inspiration. I’ve been in the field now for 20 years and am thankful for having lived what is nothing short of a lifestyle. To be connected in mind, body, and spirit in dance takes daily effort but provides a lens of vitality to experience life. Dance isn’t easy which is what I think I’ve always been drawn to, but it sure is rewarding. Due to the challenge of the sustainability of the art form, I focused much of my attention on the business practices and am currently the Executive Director of the San Diego Ballet. The doing and the creating of the art is the base, but as a Director I have to ask questions like: Who is being hired and how? What programs do we have available to the community? How is what we do impactful? And, of course, how do we keep the lights on and pay working artists? The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that is it all Human Resources, especially this art form. Nurturing the artists and the creative process must be the priority so they can best do their jobs and thus provide a product/service to the community that is authentic and viable.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First, I usually do the: bring-a-visitor-to-work-day. Most folks see dance as the performance on stage so it is nice for them to check out the office environment, the school, and see rehearsals. 90% of the work is there. Other than that I’d want them to see the beautiful organic vegan food available like at the Deli at the Ocean Beach Organic Food Co-op. Or, a lovely meal at Solare Ristorante. And, most definitely a trip to a taco shop. Then there is my favorite beach spot. All of us have one and we all keep the good spots a secret! You’ll have to visit for me to show you a spot that has a private beach feel and areas with tide pools and trails to explore. There are also gallery openings and artistic offering all of the time. Don’t stick to one area, but explore what is going on during the visit…and certainly, there will be a brewery close!

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Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Dedicating this to my book club. Grateful for the conversations and for the excellent book selections. Next up: George Takei’s, “They Called Us Enemy.”

Website: www.sandiegoballet.org
Instagram: @laughingmonkeylove
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mattcarneyartssd/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mateocarney/

Image Credits
Manny Rotenberg, Canela Photography

Jade Elyssa Rivera