We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Weir recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, appreciate you joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
After a lifetime of working in the arts, I have finally left my corporate day job and am working full-time in my creative life. For decades I have struggled with the balance to provide for my family, have financial stability, and have enough energy and resources leftover to pursue my art. Finally, when I turned 50 years old, I realized that it truly is now or never to make the life I’ve dreamed of. I left my corporate job of 18+ years, and now I work full time for the arts nonprofit I founded. My days are filled with dreaming, creating, fundraising, and hustling. I’m only 4 months into it now, and I am happier than I’ve ever been. In part, I wish I could have told my younger self to make the leap sooner. However, I realize that I may have not been fully ready for it. I have a newfound sense of what my vision for the future is. The perfect job, opportunity, career, etc isn’t waiting for me to earn it. It is simply waiting for me to build it. I think my life unfolded as it should have, and I have no regrets. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to say out loud the big dreams, even if they seem impossible today. They have a funny way of manifesting as you put more attention and energy into their being.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m a Korean adoptee and grew up in North Dakota. I was a late bloomer and didn’t realize I was Asian or Queer until my early twenties. Theater Mu, an Asian American theater in Minneapolis/St. Paul helped me discover my sense of self, purpose, and belonging. I found my people in the scrappy Asian American arts community. Through theater (and Rick Shiomi), I then stumbled into taiko drumming. I have no cultural claim to taiko drumming, but somehow it claimed me. It helped me tap into a bigger, better version of myself. I found mentors, role models, and an identity I could be proud of and lean into. Taiko is a visceral experience; a unique combination of music, dance, athletics, and culture. It can empower, connect, and inspire others. It brought me my family. Eventually I became a leader, and founded TaikoArts Midwest, a nonprofit to further artistic excellence in taiko and to use it to build and strengthen community. I produced and directed HERbeat, a historic concert bringing the worlds best female/non-binary taiko artists together for the first time. It was a huge celebration and a catalyst for gender equity in a traditional male dominated field. I produced a documentary behind the scenes film, Finding Her Beat. This film has screened at over 40+ festivals worldwide and received multiple awards. I love being able to say “yes” to help artist realize their big dreams and potential. I want to be a steward and champion for the impact taiko can make in the world. The longer I live, the more I realize we all need to create new systems of equity and engagement in whatever way we can. Waiting for the “old world” to notice us is not an option. We have to build the new world brick by brick. At the end of the day, I am a fan of artists and believe they have the vision and ability to heal, inspire, and dream us into a better future.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
In my experience, society undervalues the arts in general, especially in schools. It is so deeply evident the impact arts has when you are working one on one with humans, both kids and adults. Since the institutions of power seem to need statistics, I would like to see more studies on the emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits of the creative arts. Also, let’s not forget the financial impact to the overall value and wellness of communities. Need to revitalize a neighborhood? Designate and fund a creative corridor! And the creative ecosystem? Simply put, artists need a living wage. It can’t all be funneled into the corporations, brands, and shareholders. We have swung the pendulum too far towards the blockbusters and billion dollar franchises – we need to swing back to support, amplify, and distribute the work of the independent creative voices. The system is broken. We need to rebuild, with equity and creatives at the center of the design. Finally, participation does not guarantee equity. Getting invited to the table (or simply building your own) is step one. Having any say or agency about what needs to happen next.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal or mission is to try to empower, make space, and celebrate people in the margins. I grew up never seeing myself reflected onstage, in media, or in leadership. I want to bring Queer, Asian American, and women/non-binary voices, stories, and experience forward. I want to celebrate, produce, and promote artists in any way I can. I want to connect like minded creatives and leaders, creating community where there are silos. I want to create space for my daughter to discover her self and live her best life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.taikoartsmidwest.org
- Instagram: @taikoarts
- Facebook: @taikoarts
- Other: also: www.findingherbeat.com
Image Credits
Rich Ryan Dan Norman