Who We Are
Dr Gordon Bronitsky, President and Founder
Mr. Tony Duke, Director of Operations and Development
Mr. Dirk Steitz, Projects Manager Europe
Dr.
Gordon Bronitsky,
President and Founder
A long term resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Gordon was exposed early to the extraordinary richness and history of the Indigenous peoples across New Mexico and the Southwest region of the United States. Gordon was trained as an archeologist and anthropologist and received his PhD in anthropology from the University of Arizona in 1977. He served as a professor at Rutgers University (New Jersey), University of Texas of the Permian Basin (Texas) and Virginia Commonwealth University (Virginia). Gordon has also been a Senior Fulbright Professor at the Institut für Historische Ethnologie, Johann-Wolfgang-von-Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
His early research and explorations, both academic and in the field, laid the foundation for his ongoing career and the establishment of Bronitsky and Associates – he was able to literally “unearth” the foundations of early material cultures of local Indigenous peoples and their communities and was, through this point of entry, given the privilege and shared insight into their values, customs and art practice. Most importantly it introduced him to the People - the living descendants, inheritors and maintainers of these communities and practices.
Gordon values the people he works with. Over the past fifteen (15) years, he has brokered performance opportunities, international tours, exhibitions and trade opportunities for Indigenous people and folk artists from every continent. Much of his work has been groundbreaking--before he came along, no one was facilitating and creating these spaces and recognizing the potentials for cultural exchanges and international market initiatives.
Throughout his career, Gordon has been a great example of a non-Indigenous person working with and for Indigenous organizations – where possible, building the capacity within the organization or individual artist to take on the role themselves and “doing himself out of a job”. His demonstrated commitment to working in an engaged and empowering way is a keystone to the success and achievements of Bronitsky and Associates.
As a leader, he is always encouraging new voices and allowing measured risk taking in order to achieve what is required and demanded by both customers and clients. Gordon is a thinker and an ideas man. He has the ability to attract the right people at the right time to make sure that the ideas come to fruition and that the expectations of all involved are matched or bettered.
“The best way to understand my work is in terms of two principles. The first is a business principle--one stop shopping. Whether one is Indigenous, Canadian, Australian, Asian, European, etc, generally we know who makes it, who does it, who wants it, sometimes how to make them want it, sometimes how to find the funding. The second is a philosophical principle. Indigenous people choose the message and my job is not to tinker with the message, my job is to CRANK UP THE VOLUME!”
Mr. Tony
Duke
Director of Operations and Development
Tony is a dual Australian and United States citizen currently living in the USA.
He is a motivated arts and cultural professional with demonstrated experience programming and producing events and festivals across Australia and New Zealand. He is one of the rare breed of arts professionals fortunate to have worked in visual arts, performing arts (music, theatre, dance, storytelling), media arts, literature, festivals and community cultural development.
As an experiential learner, the opportunities he values most have been those working with and for Indigenous people and organizations in Australia, New Zealand and now the USA. He has worked as a researcher, arts bureaucrat, program manager, event producer, trainer, activist and strategist in a range of community and church-based organizations, government agencies and universities.
His hands-on experiences grounded him in his current work with Bronitsky and Associates where his applied knowledge of art form practice and his appreciation of the diversity of workplace cultures make him an ideal project manager, grant writer, group facilitator and trainer.
Tony has worked within and been contracted to government agencies and funding bodies, which enhances his understanding of what funders are looking for and the need for quality presentations, well researched proposals and an edge in a highly competitive environment.
Tony enjoys his work and the challenges it presents. He has a particular interest in festivals and celebrations and is currently working with Gordon Bronitsky on their B.a.D (Bronitsky and Duke) Planning Model - an accessible and strategic approach for artists, arts organizations and community groups to develop business and operational plans as a tool for the realization of their vision.
A natural leader and communicator, Tony's greatest strength is his ability to engage with an incredible range of peoples from all classes and cultures – he uses humor and people's innate creativity to invite and encourage their ownership and participation in defining and making their own culture work for themselves, their families and their communities.
Mr.
Dirk Steitz
Projects Manager Europe
Dirk Steitz heads the Bronitsky and Associates project team in Europe. He works from his base in southwest Germany, close to the Swiss and French borders.
Dirk earned a "Magister Artium" degree in Cultural Anthropology, Political Science and International Law from the University of Freiburg, Germany. The title of his final thesis was "Economic Strategies of North American Indians within the Network of Modern Industrial Society."
Among his many career achievements, he was probably the first German anthropologist to recognize the importance of tribal gaming for Native Americans across the United States. He has presented many papers on this and other issues relating to Native Americans throughout Germany, as well as in Belgium and Switzerland.
A passionate and socially-minded cultural anthropologist with a particular interest in Indigenous culture, Dirk has managed a number of European tours by international indigenous artists and performers. Tours have included Yellow Bird Productions from the USA, the Norwegian Sami band Transjoik and renowned Appalachian singer/songwriter and storyteller Jerry Harmon.
Dirk is also an accomplished musician, having studied for seven (7) years and performed with various bands since 1987. As a former practicing artist himself, Dirk is aware of the needs and demands that touring acts have and he has the willingness and ability to ensure that these are readily met. He has experience and demonstrated understanding of working cooperatively and insisting that the quality of presentation and associated production values are of the highest standard.
Dirk is a certified N.L.P business practitioner and accordingly has great communication and people management skills that make him an ideal host and tour manager for acts and artists wishing to tour into and across the European Union.