At the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference in New York a few weeks back, there were several formal sessions and lots of informal conversation about knowledge sharing between generations. With a good portion of founders and trail-blazers on the cusp of retirement (assuming, of course, that they can afford to retire anymore), and a […]
Archives for 2009
Caution or conviction?
The big Arts Presenters conference in New York hasn’t yet begun, but I’m already sensing a trend in the conversation — based on the folks I’ve already talked with before it all begins. Obviously, the economy is delivering a gut punch to so many cultural organizations, and the people and organizations that support them. Endowments […]
Off to Arts Presenters
I’m on my way to New York today to attend the annual Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference — some 4000 venue managers, agents, artists, and supporting organizations booking their seasons and connecting with their peers. If you’re wandering around the Hilton New York, give me a wave. I’ll be participating in three panel discussions […]
The newspaper as politburo?
The Guardian posts some interesting thoughts from Clay Shirky on what might happen to traditional media in 2009. In a nutshell, he says, ”2009 is going to be a bloodbath.” While traditional publishing companies and nonprofit cultural organizations are obviously different beasts in many respects, they have eerie similarities as well. Both represent fairly well […]
Strategically free
As budgets get tight and staffing gets slim, nonprofit arts organizations will have even more reason to rethink and revitalize their use of volunteers. For those eager to do so, Stanford Social Innovation Review offers this short primer on how to bring strategy and intent to the essential resource of unpaid labor. How big is […]
Little bridges
Last month, I was invited to speak to a gathering of ”emerging leaders” (a term I still dislike…I’m leaning toward ”emergent leaders” instead) in Wisconsin, hosted by Arts Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Arts Board, and Overture Center for the Arts. My morning speech gave me the opportunity to sit down with the participants during their roundtable […]
