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Scene Change

Arts are essential. Your nonprofit is not.

Nonprofit Arts Organizations

Nonprofit Arts Closings: “Duh.”

July 11, 2023 by Alan Harrison 1 Comment

Mark Taper Forum. Book-It Repertory. Lookingglass Theatre. Dozens of others to come. All because of what? Vision? Vanity? Vainglory? Or just money? It should make you angry, not sad. I will make this as clear as possible, because it seems to be going over the head of too many nonprofit arts leaders. When nonprofit arts organizations close down, suspend productions, or … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Closings: “Duh.”

Warning: The Following Column Was Completely Written by A.I. As Such, It Should Terrify You.

June 20, 2023 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

For my nonprofit arts colleagues worldwide who are agonizing over whether they might be replaced, be assured. You likely will. If a nonprofit arts organization does not measure its impact on the community or demonstrate the public benefit it provides, it may raise questions about its effectiveness and adherence to the requirements of being a tax-exempt nonprofit entity. … [Read more...] about Warning: The Following Column Was Completely Written by A.I. As Such, It Should Terrify You.

Nonprofit Arts Funding: Why Reward Bad and Punish Good … Still?

June 6, 2023 by Alan Harrison 1 Comment

Why do funders support the same organizations because they’ve always supported the same organizations, regardless of their results? I thought this would have stopped by now. Silly me. In 2017, the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas was $151 million in debt, partly due in part to escalating expenses from a capital project gone haywire. According to the … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Funding: Why Reward Bad and Punish Good … Still?

Nonprofit Art and The Tyranny of Happiness

April 25, 2023 by Alan Harrison 1 Comment

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

The [Insert Letter Here] Word and the Arts

April 18, 2023 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

DEI is not a contest between. It’s a contest for. The C word (no, not that one — the 5-letter one that’s not just for Chinese people anymore). The E word (if you want to get abandoned in a snowdrift in Yellowknife, just use this slur). The F word (no, not that one — the 6-letter one). The G word (not just for Koreans anymore). The I word (unless the … [Read more...] about The [Insert Letter Here] Word and the Arts

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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

  • “A PUNCHY, OUTSPOKEN ARGUMENT FOR HOW NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE RUN.”
  • Nonprofit Arts Orgs: If Your Only Answer Is ‘Cut,’ You’re Asking the Wrong Question
  • Nonprofit Arts Leaders and Funders: What’s It Gonna Be? People or Buildings?
  • Born in the DSA*: Remove the Social Security Cap
  • Nonprofit Arts Companies: Beware the Allure of the Headhunter

Recent Comments

  1. RICHARD TOSCAN on Nonprofit Arts Leaders and Funders: What’s It Gonna Be? People or Buildings?
  2. Harold N Cropp on Nonprofit Arts Orgs: If Your Only Answer Is ‘Cut,’ You’re Asking the Wrong Question
  3. Coe Tug Morgan on Nonprofit Arts Leaders and Funders: What’s It Gonna Be? People or Buildings?
  4. Larry on Nonprofit Arts Companies: Beware the Allure of the Headhunter
  5. Michael Chang on Arts Organizations: Laughing, Yelling, Insanity, and You

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