The changing face of artist communities

We might think of an artist community as an isolated place, a center for nourishment, a place to think, create, or have a creative breakthrough. That is the old view. Artists’ communities now are often involved in developing new talent, providing outreach to the public, and helping to build bridges, artist to artist. They also now have their own mediating voice, the Alliance of Artists’ Communities. What is it, and what relevance might it have for the working artist at the dawn of a new century? Why might we need such an alliance today; and why are they still relevant?