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Scene Change

Arts are essential. Your nonprofit is not.

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Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 4 — You Can’t Tell Rhinoceroses They’re Dumb Animals

March 11, 2025 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

Nor can you force them to admit they were wrong. Because they’re, you know, rhinoceroses. In the new/old world order of Trumpian policy, your arts organization faces the real possibility that, in the face of anti-arts, anti-education, and anti-truth political muckraking euphemistically calling itself “populism,” it will be shut down. To combat that, we need ideas to … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 4 — You Can’t Tell Rhinoceroses They’re Dumb Animals

Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 3: Symbolism Is Cute and Clever and Performative and Futile

March 5, 2025 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

You can change the minds of the armies of pseudo-populists, but only one at a charitable time. Simple satire won’t cut it. Over the next few years, your nonprofit arts organization will be tasked with trying to succeed in a local and national environment powered by zero-sum, anti-art, anti-intellectual, pseudo-populists that now hold sway. It is with that in mind that we … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 3: Symbolism Is Cute and Clever and Performative and Futile

“Duck and Cover” — Is That Your Motto for the Next 46 Months?

February 11, 2025 by Alan Harrison 3 Comments

Or will nonprofit arts organizations choose to fight back for their communities? Whippersnappers do not know about “Duck and Cover.” Which is why it serves as an option for your company’s future. Not a good one, mind you, but I’m sure you’re considering it. “Duck and Cover” was a thing. In fact, the Defense Department made a whole movie about it in 1951. This … [Read more...] about “Duck and Cover” — Is That Your Motto for the Next 46 Months?

When People Are Losing Everything, Is Protecting Art Always Important?

January 21, 2025 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

The fires in Los Angeles have been brutal. Billions, if not trillions, will be needed. And the posh Getty Villa in posh Malibu, originally owned by and named for climate destruction activist, became a giant, vacuum-sealed symbol. It raises complex questions. I was born in Los Angeles. And while we lived in Pacoima when I was born, most of my childhood was spent in Beverly … [Read more...] about When People Are Losing Everything, Is Protecting Art Always Important?

Nonprofit Arts Organizations: If You Can’t Beat ’Em, Join ’Em? Really?

January 14, 2025 by Alan Harrison 1 Comment

With an empowered anti-arts, anti-education, and anti-culture base running the country, this is the time to commit to your community, not fall into the trap of cancelling them. It’s all gone topsy-turvy. We live in New America now. Ironically, the group that wanted to “Make America Great Again” has moved the country in a completely different direction than ever. We … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Organizations: If You Can’t Beat ’Em, Join ’Em? Really?

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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

  • Arts Organizations: Laughing, Yelling, Insanity, and You
  • For Nonprofit Arts Organizations, It’s August and the Fan Is Clogged with S**t
  • SUMMER RERUN: Advocacy for the Nonprofit Arts Sector is Currently Meaningless
  • SUMMER RERUN: Art Doesn’t Need to Be Served. People Do.
  • SUMMER RERUN: “The Planet Will Be Fine. It’s the People Who Will Be F**ked.” — George Carlin

Recent Comments

  1. Rick Stein on For Nonprofit Arts Organizations, It’s August and the Fan Is Clogged with S**t
  2. Benjamin Lemon on SUMMER RERUN: What Would a Post-NEA (Arts) America Look Like?
  3. Tom Tresser on No. Just No.
  4. Alan Harrison on Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 6 — Don’t Talk About It; Do It.
  5. Joyce Linehan on Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 6 — Don’t Talk About It; Do It.

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