I go on and on about false metaphors, management myths, and bundled assumptions in this weblog, so I thought I’d give some space to someone else doing the same (better than me, I’ll admit). I stumbled on this great speech by James Allen Smith of the Getty Trust (look to the right column of the […]
The arts uncubator
The idea of a business incubator has been around for along while now, especially in cities encouraging ‘light industrial’ or technology start-ups in the for-profit world. The purpose of an incubator, as its name implies, is to provide space and resources for new business ideas (seedlings) to take root and grow. The ultimate success measure […]
Simple Truth Number Two
Last week I posted simple truth number one for arts and cultural marketing: namely that audiences don’t buy an event, but the promise of an event. The thought of the arts as an ‘experience good’ — that is, a product or service that you can’t know until you experience it — isn’t a radical thought, […]
If you can’t beat ’em, buy ’em
In an unusual strategic move described in the Nonprofit Times, the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, and its Atlanta Symphony Orchestra division, recently purchased a professional telemarketing firm. The $3 million purchase of MKTG Teleservices from Media Services Group, Inc., created in a new subsidiary to the nonprofit, now called SD&A Teleservices. From the story: […]
Thanks for making my point
Following up on my last post, posing simple truth number 1 about engaging audiences in arts and culture, Vancouver offers this proof of concept. The struggling Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts is flailing around for an audience, even though they book shows that do well in other markets. Says Dennis Law, one of four […]
Simple Truth Number One (of more to come)
There’s a simple truth about marketing arts and culture, so simple that perhaps we have forgotten, or never called it forward. Courtesy of friend and colleague Neill Archer Roan (who visited my Center and students recently), here it is: Audiences don’t buy arts and cultural events. They can’t. The experience doesn’t exist until well after […]
Valuing the arts in Silicon Valley
Jack Fischer in the Mercury News offers a summary and commentary (username: ajreader@artsjournal.com, password: access) about a recent Silicon Valley Arts Summit. The summit brought community and arts leaders together to explore the role of the arts in San Jose and its surrounding area. According to the official conference web site: Attendees left the Arts […]
Weblogs extended
Weblogs like those on ArtsJournal and around the world have disrupted the traditional communications stream for ideas, public discussion, news, and information. At least one arts organization is now engaging that disruptive force for their own creative work. Seattle’s On the Boards, a contemporary performing arts nonprofit, just launched a series of weblogs on their […]
On collaborative marketing
A short and relatively information-free article in The Herald announces a new collaborative arts marketing initiative in Glasgow. Nine of the leading arts organizations in town have already signed on. Says the article: Glasgow Grows Audiences, funded by around £180,000 from the Scottish Arts Council and the city council, will act as a marketing organisation […]
Innovation in a box
Following up on yesterday’s post about invention, innovation, and diffusion in the arts, I had a great opportunity to explore what role architecture can play in fostering the creative impulse. Even though my neighbor blogger James S. Russell is far more qualified to attack the issue, I’ve never let the lack of actual knowledge stop […]
