Spotlight on Martin Inthamoussu

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Where are you from, where are you based now, and what is your current position?

I'm originally from Uruguay. My career path was very diverse as I started as a dancer and I worked in Germany for a long time, dancing for a local company until I decided I wanted to go to the other side of the stage. Being an artist myself, I could see what was expected from people in the arts management sector. So, I said maybe I should jump on that sector and bring those artistic expectations and ideas. I studied arts management among many other things - I am addicted to studying. I did two master degrees to bring all this knowledge to the sector. I moved back to Uruguay where I started working for the Ministry of Culture. I was asked to start the new dance school, National Dance School, the National Conservatory. I started the Contemporary Dance Conservatory there. So, I'm the founder and after four years of directing in the conservatory, I was offered the position to be the director of all artists schools in the country. I started that position within the ministry and after that I was offered to be the president and CEO of the National Performing Arts Council. I was there until 2022 last year when I got a job in Washington, DC where I'm based right now at the Internal American Development Bank as a consultant for the creative and cultural industries for Latin America and the Caribbean.

You have moved from Uruguay to the United States. Can you talk about opportunities/disadvantages associated with the move?

Sometimes it's very hard to be far away from your family and people you love, friends. But on the other hand, I really see the opportunity and how from here I can help develop more impact or improving lives of those working in the cultural sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. So that's stronger than the other thing for me. I travel and see my family quite a lot. I know what I can do here, and I can see the results. It's very important to be able to have a broader perspective. In my previous job I was only overlooking one country, right now I can see different situations, compare them, see how one country can help the other. I think that's very motivating.

You have more than 20 years of experience in arts management and public policy, building better communities and promoting change through arts and creativity. Can you tell us what keeps you inspired?

That's a very interesting question. I was talking about that yesterday. I think that the challenge is to keep connected with our communities. That's what keeps me inspired, to see the struggles our communities have and to see how we can help. That's what inspires me. Sometimes you can think that in our job, you can end up in the office without knowing what's happening in the real world. And when you talk to artists or when you talk to the audiences or when you talk to people who work in these industries, you go back to reality. That's what I look for. When I find myself not knowing what to do, I go and talk to the people in the sector, ask them what they need, bring their opinion to the table. What they think matters, what we think in an office has to be a tool for them to make things happen. The whole idea is to involve the community. This is my inspiration.

You joined ISPA as a Fellow and now, just recently, you joined ISPA Board -- Congratulations! How have you been involved in the organization since your Fellowship?

Yes, I was a fellow, as you said, that was my first contact with ISPA in 2017. Then for two or three years, I was part of the organizing committee for the New York Congress. That was my first involvement. And it was very interesting to see all the things that could be done. That's when I thought I could bring more to the organization, especially in terms of diversity. Not only geographically, but also in the way we think the performing arts world. Then I started working in the governance committee. That's one of the committees I'm a member of right now. And very recently I joined the board. The main challenge I see is to bring more diverse membership and I want to help with that. Because I think that's the only way ISPA can move forward. By having more diversity and different ways of thinking.

What is the most memorable conversation you had at our recent New York Congress? Will you be joining us in Manchester, June 27-30, 2023?

Together with Judy Harquail I was leading the Seminar Day for ISPA Fellows. There was this activity where we all sat together in a circle, and then we started discussing what systemic change means for us. It was so inspiring, to see these fellows who just started their journey in ISPA. Most of them joined in in person for the first time because of the pandemic. All of them agreeing that we need a systemic change. We've heard ideas from all over the world in one room. What a privilege to experience that. What do we do with that? Because we meet, we discuss, we exchange ideas and points of view, but then what are you going do with that when you go back? And I found a group of very motivated leaders that wanted to go back and do something about it. So, I think that conversation was just the beginning.

As far as Manchester, I still don't know. It depends on my work here. If my schedule allows me to go there, I would definitely love to do it!