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).
Diversity Equity Inclusion
“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
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?
“Those People” – Does Your Arts Organization Understand Equity? Really?
I’ve never been a big fan of synopses—especially if the synopsis is lengthy and appears in a program for a play in modern English. I, as it happens, understand contemporary English very well as it is the language in which I speak, write, and think. Opera in Italian? Sure, why not. But a play in English for an English-speaking audience? Not a fan. But that doesn’t mean … [Read more...] about “Those People” – Does Your Arts Organization Understand Equity? Really?
Nonprofit Arts Leaders: Already Practicing Equity? Or Is It Just Equality?
As has been widely discussed, equity is not the same thing as equality. The words are too often used interchangeably, but they are vastly different in impact. Each uses tools, but equity requires a second step. In that way, using the image above as a reference, a movie theatre handing out 3D glasses is a form of equality. They offer the same experience for every audience … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Leaders: Already Practicing Equity? Or Is It Just Equality?