Andrew Taylor on the Business of Arts & Culture
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Ecological mission vs. insular alliance
Posted: January 25, 2006
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There's a common theme that pops up in almost every conversation I have with funders, practitioners, and academics about the future of cultural enterprise. Here's the motif: our mission statements and aspirations are ecological in scope, but our alliances and energies are locked to the particular channel we've chosen to serve.
For example, a symphony's leadership may claim they want to ''engage a wide and public audience in the transformative experience of classical music,'' but their behavior often suggests the hidden caveat ''with us as the primary channel.'' Or, a public broadcasting organization may claim their goal is to ''provide free and public access to great works of musical art,'' but pushes for the preservation of their current business model and broadcast structure to make it so.
It's as if we silently add the phrase ''through my organization'' to the end of every mission statement.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for self preservation. It is a large part of any cultural manager's job to look out for the health and connection of their specific organization, and the sustainability of their business model. But I'm beginning to see the radical disconnect between what we claim to be about, and what actions we take under that claim.
If a symphony was really about connecting a public to classical music, it would recognize that it's not the only organization that does that, and perhaps admit that other organizations achieve elements of that goal more effectively. If public radio was really about free and equitable access to great works of musical arts, it would strive to make space for a full range of organizations in its community to support that cause.
As resources constrain and communities refocus, the disconnect between what goals we work for and who pays our salary will likely become increasingly difficult to resolve. If we're primarily about preserving our particular organization, let's say so out loud. If we have a broader vision for a more vibrant culture, we'll all need to give up a bit of our turf.