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Scene Change

Arts are essential. Your nonprofit is not.

Development and Fundraising

Last of the Summer Whine

July 23, 2024 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

The seven attributes of a successful nonprofit arts organization. You gotta do all seven to win. Before I take off for a month, I thought I’d let you in on the secret to success for nonprofit arts organizations. Note how “raising money” is not among the things on the list. That’s a business practice, not an attribute of success. Of course you’ll have to raise money! That … [Read more...] about Last of the Summer Whine

Nonprofit Arts Leaders: Just Like the Overhead Myth, Ratios are Ridiculous

July 9, 2024 by Alan Harrison 4 Comments

Plus: a bonus, non-hypothetical question for you! Now that the end of the fiscal year has passed, and while you're busy toting up the red ink and how you'll hide it from the board and your funders, let's all try not to make the same mistakes regarding your marketing budget for the coming year, okay? This one’s not for the marketing folks. They know what they’re doing. … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Leaders: Just Like the Overhead Myth, Ratios are Ridiculous

When the Money Keeps Rolling In, You Don’t Ask Why — Or Should You?

June 25, 2024 by Alan Harrison 2 Comments

Cronyism is disgusting – and a way of life for large Seattle nonprofit arts organizations As we discussed last week, the Seattle nonprofit arts-mosphere is imploding and re-forming. Seattle Repertory Theatre is merging with Seattle Children’s Theatre. ACT (A Contemporary Theatre) is merging with the Seattle Shakespeare Company. These mergers appear to be strictly … [Read more...] about When the Money Keeps Rolling In, You Don’t Ask Why — Or Should You?

The Seattle Arts Scene Today: Full of Hopes and Full of Fears

June 18, 2024 by Alan Harrison 1 Comment

Good people making strained decisions because they keep thinking it’s about HOW they produce art, not WHY Seattle Rep is laying off 12% of its workforce. ACT (A Contemporary Theatre) and Seattle Shakespeare are working out a merger. Bellevue Art Museum (Bellevue is a wealthy, somewhat conservative, mostly White and Asian suburb of Seattle – sometimes referred to as … [Read more...] about The Seattle Arts Scene Today: Full of Hopes and Full of Fears

Sometimes There’s a Pretty Good Reason to Swim Upstream

June 4, 2024 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

For nonprofit arts organizations, the choice to use the art as a final product is the easiest way to swim downstream. Oh, before I forget. If June 30 is a special date for your company and you need/want/are being forced to raise a bunch of money before then with a big campaign, here’s an email to print out and show your various bosses: Don’t force people to give … [Read more...] about Sometimes There’s a Pretty Good Reason to Swim Upstream

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About Scene Change

In early 2024, we laid out the problem and gave you a path. The result: SCENE CHANGE: WHY TODAY'S NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE TO STOP PRODUCING ART AND START PRODUCING IMPACT. In late 2024, we gave you discussion prompts and rules to help you figure out the answers on your own. The result: … [MORE] about About Scene Change

About Alan Harrison

Alan Harrison is a writer, father, performer, consultant, recovering artist, and the author of the industry best-seller "Scene Change: Why Today's Nonprofit Arts Organizations Have to Stop Producing Art and Start Producing Impact" and “Scene Change 2: The Five REAL Responsibilities of Nonprofit Arts … [MORE] about About Alan Harrison

Recent Posts

  • Consequences — If They Cut Funding, You Go Nuclear (or Go Home)
  • A Strategic Plan for Your Flailing Nonprofit Arts Organization Is Just a Waste of Time
  • Arts Organizations: Laughing, Yelling, Insanity, and You
  • For Nonprofit Arts Organizations, It’s August and the Fan Is Clogged with S**t
  • SUMMER RERUN: Advocacy for the Nonprofit Arts Sector is Currently Meaningless

Recent Comments

  1. Michael Chang on Arts Organizations: Laughing, Yelling, Insanity, and You
  2. Rick Stein on For Nonprofit Arts Organizations, It’s August and the Fan Is Clogged with S**t
  3. Benjamin Lemon on SUMMER RERUN: What Would a Post-NEA (Arts) America Look Like?
  4. Tom Tresser on No. Just No.
  5. Alan Harrison on Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 6 — Don’t Talk About It; Do It.

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