Do taxpayers pay for your nonprofit arts organization to wrestle with artistic satisfaction or to make their community better? In deciphering whether nonprofits, especially nonprofit arts organizations, deserve funding, acclaim, or zealous advocacy, there are a number of factors that we keep forgetting. The first thing is that nonprofits cost you a lot of money. Not … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Art and The Tyranny of Happiness
Change
The Closet(s).
With acts of tolerance and impact, nonprofit arts organizations in America could set the anti-competitive tone for everyone. But, generally, they don’t. There are a lot of closets out there with a lot of people in them. And, unsurprisingly, there are a lot of people who would like those people to stay just where they are, for numerous reasons. LGBT folx have been … [Read more...] about The Closet(s).
“Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics” – Another Bad Research Project About the Arts Leads to Worse Conclusions
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
Changing the Way Nonprofit Arts Organizations Do Business is Hard. Aw.
No, you don’t get to mount that show you’ve always wanted to do. Artistic leaders with nonprofit organizations are notorious for wanting to do “that show” that no one has yet done well. Or do an exhibition of “that artist” whose work was never appreciated before they rediscovered it. Or that lost symphony by Whatshisname. On behalf of your community, the one you pledged … [Read more...] about Changing the Way Nonprofit Arts Organizations Do Business is Hard. Aw.
Protests, Marches, and the Nonprofit Arts Industry: How Change Happens Is Circumstantial
So, just change the circumstances. In this first article for 2023, let’s discuss how change happens. Real change. Decisive change. Permanent change. For better or worse. Change is essential to the betterment of the planet, continent, country, state, city, neighborhood, community. Without disequilibrium, we have stasis. And stasis is only good for those on the top of the … [Read more...] about Protests, Marches, and the Nonprofit Arts Industry: How Change Happens Is Circumstantial