The Merit of Metrics: Rethinking Accountability in the Arts | Carolyn Ramsay | TEDxSt Helier
In this raw, personal talk, Carolyn Rose Ramsay, former ballet dancer, aviation operations officer, and now Artistic Director of a national ballet company asks a provocative question: how do we know we’re doing a good job in the arts? Drawing on the contrast between the procedural rigour of aviation and the ambiguity of artistic value, she explores how we measure success in a sector where impact can be emotional, delayed, or unmeasurable.Carolyn challenges both artists and funders to rethink accountability not as a box-ticking exercise, but as a shared commitment to integrity, transparency, and long-term value. She urges creatives to engage with scrutiny rather than fear it, and calls on supporters to get involved beyond applause from helping write budgets to backing risky but meaningful work.This talk is a rallying cry for artists to own their worth, for funders to question their metrics, and for all of us to bet on brave ideas not just the ones that look safe on paper.Carolyn Rose Ramsay is originally from Vancouver BC, and her training took place at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She danced professionally with Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Miami City Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, and the Norwegian National Ballet. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 1:07The shocking truth about internet hitmen #shorts #tedx#shorts #tedx #ted #crime #darkweb
- 11:17Just a Nurse? | Debra Albert, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC | TEDxNYU Langone HealthWith 38 years in nursing, Dr. Albert highlights there’s nothing “just” about being a nurse--it’s empowering, compassionate, sacred art and science that transforms humanity. Debra Albert, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, is the Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services at NYU Langone Health. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 10:40The Evolution of Purpose | Fritz François, MD | TEDxNYU Langone HealthAs a fifth grader, Dr. François knew he wanted to be a doctor. His talk traces how early ambition evolved into a life of service—shaped by personal loss, community advocacy, and resilience. Fritz François, MD, is the Executive Vice President and Vice Dean and Chief of Hospital Operations at NYU Langone Health. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 8:56The Merit of Metrics: Rethinking Accountability in the Arts | Carolyn Ramsay | TEDxSt HelierIn this raw, personal talk, Carolyn Rose Ramsay, former ballet dancer, aviation operations officer, and now Artistic Director of a national ballet company asks a provocative question: how do we know we’re doing a good job in the arts? Drawing on the contrast between the procedural rigour of aviation and the ambiguity of artistic value, she explores how we measure success in a sector where impact can be emotional, delayed, or unmeasurable.Carolyn challenges both artists and funders to rethink accountability not as a box-ticking exercise, but as a shared commitment to integrity, transparency, and long-term value. She urges creatives to engage with scrutiny rather than fear it, and calls on supporters to get involved beyond applause from helping write budgets to backing risky but meaningful work.This talk is a rallying cry for artists to own their worth, for funders to question their metrics, and for all of us to bet on brave ideas not just the ones that look safe on paper.Carolyn Rose Ramsay is originally from Vancouver BC, and her training took place at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She danced professionally with Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Miami City Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, and the Norwegian National Ballet. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 15:51Tiny Hearts and Big Answers | Dr. Eman Akam-Baxter | TEDxYouth@DoverSherbornHighSchoolWhat if our hearts could heal like our skin, without leaving scars? Dr. Eman Akam-Baxter takes us into the microscopic world of zebrafish and molecular imaging to uncover how these tiny creatures might help us teach the human heart to regenerate. Her research could change how we recover from heart attacks and redefine what healing really means. Dr. Eman Akam-Baxter is a biomedical researcher and educator specializing in molecular imaging and fibrosis. Currently serving as an Investigator in the Cardiology Division at Massachusetts General Hospital and as an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School, she focuses on developing imaging tools to study fibrotic heart and lung diseases. Dr. Akam-Baxter completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Arizona in 2016. She then pursued postdoctoral training at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at MGH. Beyond her research, Dr. Akam-Baxter is passionate about mentoring, outreach, and the advancement and equal representation of historically marginalized communities in STEM fields. She co-founded the Melanated and Dedicated (MaD) Scientist outreach program, a program focused on fostering STEM-identity in Boston-area youth. Dr. Akam-Baxter is the recipient of the New England Educational Opportunity Association’s 2019 Rising Star award. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 12:05The world's most unlikely football club owner | George Dowell MBE | TEDxBrightonIn this uplifting talk, George shares his journey from rising football star to community leader — and the injury that changed everything.As a young athlete with a promising future in football, George’s dreams were suddenly cut short by a life-changing injury. What followed could have been the end of the story. Instead, it became the beginning of something new.Through resilience, reflection and a deep love for the game, George went on to build and grow a thriving community football club — not just as a place to play, but as a space for belonging, mentorship and opportunity.His story is a powerful reminder that while we can’t always control what happens to us, we can choose how we respond. And often, our greatest setbacks can lead to our most meaningful successes. Father, Football Club Owner and awarded an MBE post Spinal Cord Injury This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
