Benjamin Disraeli might have been referring to the latest irrelevant data on the economic power of the arts in 2021. [Jeez Louise. Why do they make me have to write this?] Let’s start with a basic question. What constitutes relevant data? If you’re really hungry and you find yourself in an apple orchard, which one of these points is the most relevant to you? If … [Read more...] about “Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics” – Another Bad Research Project About the Arts Leads to Worse Conclusions
Nonprofit Arts Organization Boards: An Epilogue
You don’t have to follow what others call “best practices” if it doesn’t work for your community If you are a nonprofit arts board member, you have a chance to build something great. And no, the best way is not to copy what your fellow arts organizations are doing. In fact, it might behoove you to look at other kinds of nonprofits that fit under the IRS guidelines. If … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Organization Boards: An Epilogue
What’s Your Nonprofit Arts Board’s 6th Through ∞th Most Important Responsibilities?
After the first five, the rest will grow your skills in all you do All nonprofits are essentially scientific, social experiments in bettering our various lots in life. Including nonprofit arts organizations. The background of that experiment is this: there is a thing that needs to be done or else the community suffers. Private businesses can’t do it. The government … [Read more...] about What’s Your Nonprofit Arts Board’s 6th Through ∞th Most Important Responsibilities?
What’s Your Nonprofit Arts Board’s Fifth Most Important Responsibility?
Now that you have the first four under your belt, here’s where the rubber meets the road. Okay, nonprofit arts board members, let’s go over this again. In order: And now, finally, #5. Advocate. Advocate zealously. In September 2020, we discussed the idea that board members are not ambassadors, regardless of what you may have heard. In fact, it was in the … [Read more...] about What’s Your Nonprofit Arts Board’s Fifth Most Important Responsibility?
Arts Boards: What’s Your Fourth Most Important Responsibility?
Now that you know why you’re there, what’s expected of you, and to whom you report, find others — especially if they’re not like you at all. Thankfully, by now, as a board member of a nonprofit arts organization (or one who knows a board member), you’ve read the three most responsibilities of a nonprofit arts board member. You may agree with them. You may be … [Read more...] about Arts Boards: What’s Your Fourth Most Important Responsibility?