A two-part column about you, your nonprofit arts company, and the power of your choices In these heady days where the mere act of watching RuPaul’s Drag Race self-qualifies you as an expert on the LGBT community (it doesn’t), where putting a “We support the Black Community” manifesto on your arts organization’s website self-qualifies you as an equity activist (it doesn’t), … [Read more...] about Useful Idiots, Harmless Kitsch, and Nonprofit Arts Organizations Doing the Right Thing, No Matter What (Part One)
Diversity Equity Inclusion
Nonprofit Arts Leaders: One Final Note About the Upcoming War
…until, of course, the catalyst event happens, at which point you’ll probably think to yourself, “How did Alan know?” I’m not prescient. In fact, there is still a naïve part of me that hopes that people have discovered that, in fact, war is not healthy for children and other living things. But first… My new book is now available everywhere, even as an eBook. And if … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Leaders: One Final Note About the Upcoming War
Artists Don’t Need Vanity-Led Arts Organizations to Make Your City Grow
Nonprofit arts organizations that refuse to tend to the un-served among us just bolster the elitism epithets, deservedly so. But artists can make the kind of magic that makes lives better for everyone, especially those who need help. I had a set-to recently with an arts administrator who didn’t believe that Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was applicable to the arts. I won’t … [Read more...] about Artists Don’t Need Vanity-Led Arts Organizations to Make Your City Grow
54 Percent and Nonprofit Arts Organizations
Sustainability is boring. It’s risk-averse. It asks you to improve your impact rather than win It’s a lousy way to run a ballclub. It’s the perfect way to run your arts organization. Back in October, just after the regular season ended for Major League Baseball (MLB) in the US, who said the following? “Nobody wants to hear the goal this year is, ‘We’re going to win 54 … [Read more...] about 54 Percent and Nonprofit Arts Organizations
Pulling at a Few Threads
Certitude has its drawbacks. Redemption might be a better idea. Especially for nonprofit arts folks. Happy New Year, 2024. May you be the year in which the fog lifts. May you be the year in which forgiveness and redemption replace cancellation and blacklisting. May you be the year in which grudges fade. And may you be the year in which disagreements don’t devolve into … [Read more...] about Pulling at a Few Threads