I’ve had this completely wacky, unfounded theory of the production of art on a stage. It’s called, for lack of a better name, “Ren Faire vs Basement.” The theory goes that “Ren Faire” art (art presented at a Renaissance Faire, Fringe Festival, or by buskers, improv groups, and standups) uses approximately the same process during respective creations. The key is: they don’t … [Read more...] about Ren Faires vs Basements: How Risky Is Nonprofit Art When No One Dies If You Fail?
Board of Directors
Yes, You Do Have to Show Your Nonprofit Tax Returns to Anyone Who Asks, No Matter What.
Anyone. Without questions or delay. But you knew that already. Right? Money makes people nervous. Especially tax records. It is no different in the nonprofit arts world now as it was for Al Capone, who was finally imprisoned for tax evasion. I understand the notion of keeping your finances under wraps. But you can’t, both literally and strategically. Literally, you … [Read more...] about Yes, You Do Have to Show Your Nonprofit Tax Returns to Anyone Who Asks, No Matter What.
Funders: How Do You Hold Your Nonprofit Arts Organizations Accountable?
Alternately, are you just robotically giving the most money to previous beneficiaries? In a city in which I no longer live, I served on a local government arts panel evaluating capital requests from arts organizations in the community. We looked at a number of proposals from organizations with small, medium, and large budgets, but the money for such capital expenses came … [Read more...] about Funders: How Do You Hold Your Nonprofit Arts Organizations Accountable?
Nonprofit Arts Orgs and Sandcastles. Now That the Waves Have Hit, Maybe It’s Time to Swim Awhile
All the pandemic did was rush oblivion along. The end of this version of the nonprofit arts industry was coming relatively soon, even before the pandemic. It’s a system borne of privilege and elitism, forgetting that art all by itself is not a charitable mission, no matter whether it’s in the IRS code or not (it’s not). In the largest organizations, survival is based not … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Orgs and Sandcastles. Now That the Waves Have Hit, Maybe It’s Time to Swim Awhile
Why DEI Fails When Anyone Gets Demonized
Do others have the right to force you to adjust your behavior? From whose vantage point? “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.” George Galloway I wonder if this search for a “safe” space is all it’s cracked up to be. We’re halfway through 2023 and already in America, there have been over 200 mass shootings, defined as the killing of 4 or more … [Read more...] about Why DEI Fails When Anyone Gets Demonized