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
Executive Director
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
Nonprofit Arts Organizations: In 2024, There’s Going to Be a Lot of Noise. Take Advantage.
Take the time to understand that your art is not your company’s product. Impact is, whether you want it to be or not. And if your company doesn’t aim for impact, it’ll never be essential. Everything that happens in 2024 in the nonprofit arts world will go relatively unnoticed. At least in the United States. The news will cover the poorly-written trash soap/reality show … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Organizations: In 2024, There’s Going to Be a Lot of Noise. Take Advantage.
The Craven
A Halloween poem for the nonprofit arts leaders among you. Laugh at your own peril. With apologies to the Poes. Once upon a desk so dusty, while I called a sixteenth trustee, All about a new donation that would keep open our door— While I wept and gave a holler, “Oh, why can’t we raise a dollar?” And the tightness of my collar made me sweat profusely … [Read more...] about The Craven
If Your Nonprofit Arts Organization’s Audience Is Comprised Solely of Ticket Buyers, You Missed the Point, the Boat, and Your Chance
Have you stuck by your audience? Are you stuck with your audience? Would you like to get unstuck? Subscriptions are dead. Subscriptions are not dead. Frequent buying of tickets is a pipe dream. Frequency is occurring at nonprofit arts organizations that aren’t yours. Ticketbuyers are old, want to be entertained, and dying off. Ticketbuyers are old, want to be … [Read more...] about If Your Nonprofit Arts Organization’s Audience Is Comprised Solely of Ticket Buyers, You Missed the Point, the Boat, and Your Chance