The beginning of a series offering ideas that might disturb, comfort, or provoke nonprofit arts organizations into community action. Read it anyway. Toss the ideas around. There’s an old handbook still being published by BoardSource, Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards. You might already have a copy of either the original (2009) or any of its revisions. It’s not … [Read more...] about What Are Your Nonprofit Art Board Members’ Real Responsibilities?
Charity
What Did You Talk About at Your First Nonprofit Arts Board Meeting Tonight?
Robert's Rules of Order? The art? The revenue? The needs of the community? It’s the first Tuesday in February. Welcome to your first board meeting! It’s 7:00pm. You rushed home, had a quick dinner, and drove like a bat out of hell to get there at 6:55. Surprisingly, you’re among the first people there. You were unanimously elected to the board at the January … [Read more...] about What Did You Talk About at Your First Nonprofit Arts Board Meeting Tonight?
Nonprofit Arts Board Members: “Oughta” Just Won’t Cut It
You know what you really oughta do? Stop telling other people what they oughta do. “Oughta.” The “O” word. Board members are not consultants. They advise, to be sure, but a good board member does not see him- or herself as a consultant. Consultants are paid to tell the truth to the organization in order for the organization to thrive (although too many are paid to echo … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Board Members: “Oughta” Just Won’t Cut It
“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?
Changing the Way Nonprofit Arts Organizations Do Business is Hard. Aw.
No, you don’t get to mount that show you’ve always wanted to do. Artistic leaders with nonprofit organizations are notorious for wanting to do “that show” that no one has yet done well. Or do an exhibition of “that artist” whose work was never appreciated before they rediscovered it. Or that lost symphony by Whatshisname. On behalf of your community, the one you pledged … [Read more...] about Changing the Way Nonprofit Arts Organizations Do Business is Hard. Aw.