As part of Engaging Matters' 10th Anniversary, we are highlighting important and/or popular posts from the past. In reviewing such posts it became clear that many were grouped thematically. As a result, this Anniversary series will, for the most part, present the theme with links to relevant posts rather than simply re-posting individual items. Early this year, looking/hoping for a light at the end of the COVID tunnel, I wrote a series of … [Read more...]
Marketing and Engagement
It has been some time since I have had the courage to discuss marketing here. When I first did so many years ago I quickly learned that my view was hopelessly colored by the unfortunate marketing habits of many arts organizations–self focus, ignorance (sometimes willful) of the interests of the people they were trying to reach, and an elitist use of "inside baseball" language in promotional materials. I think I've learned a lot since then about … [Read more...]
Doing Art
As part of Engaging Matters' 10th Anniversary, we are highlighting important and/or popular posts from the past. In reviewing such posts it became clear that many were grouped thematically. As a result, this Anniversary series will, for the most part, present the theme with links to relevant posts rather than simply re-posting individual items. Over the last few years I have developed an increasing awareness of the critical importance of … [Read more...]
Cruise Ships Turning?
From 2015 to 2019 the Wallace Foundation funded a $52 million program involving 25 large budget arts organizations called Building Audiences for Sustainability. It was designed to develop "practical insights into how arts organizations can successfully expand their audiences." Recently Francie Ostrower of the University of Texas completed an evaluation of the program. A brief on that study "Why Is It Important That We Continue? Some Nonprofit … [Read more...]
Slow & Simple
As part of Engaging Matters' 10th Anniversary, we are highlighting important and/or popular posts from the past. In reviewing such posts it became clear that many were grouped thematically. As a result, this Anniversary series will, for the most part, present the theme with links to relevant posts rather than simply re-posting individual items. One of the most important elements of effective community engagement is understanding that any … [Read more...]
Not Charity
One of the more pernicious ideas used to denigrate community engagement is the claim that it's "just charity work." This implies that any community not already participating in the arts has no resources to bring to the table. That's preposterous. Every community has cultural resources and many, if not most, have financial resources that can be applied toward things it feels are truly important. Significant self-funded philanthropic work is being … [Read more...]
Differentiation
As part of Engaging Matters' 10th Anniversary, we are highlighting important and/or popular posts from the past. In reviewing such posts it became clear that many were grouped thematically. As a result, this Anniversary series will, for the most part, present the theme with links to relevant posts rather than simply re-posting individual items. One of the most significant observations in this blog has been the differentiation among audience … [Read more...]
Employee Engagement as a Strategy for Community Engagement
Guest Postby Kathleen Riemenschneider For more than two decades I have managed and developed education and community engagement programs, but while earning my doctorate in leadership studies I learned about ‘employee engagement.’ I began to wonder if there was a relationship between community engagement and employee engagement. There are similarities: both are about increasing involvement in the decision-making process or at least giving a … [Read more...]
Terminology
As part of Engaging Matters' 10th Anniversary, we are highlighting important and/or popular posts from the past. In reviewing such posts it became clear that many were grouped thematically. As a result, this Anniversary series will, for the most part, present the theme with links to relevant posts rather than simply re-posting individual items. "Community engagement" has the power not only to enhance viability but also to aid nonprofit arts … [Read more...]
Ten Years
This week marks the tenth anniversary of Engaging Matters. That's hard for me to believe. In that time this blog has had a little over 500 posts, mostly written by yours truly but also spiced up with work from some brilliant guests. When we began there was a frantic (for me) pace of two posts per week. After a few years writing that much "ate my lunch" so I cut back to one per week. Over the last two years the writing has become gradually more . … [Read more...]