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Scene Change

Arts are essential. Your nonprofit is not.

Mission Statement

Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 1: Stop Terrorizing Your People

February 18, 2025 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

The first tip: for a nonprofit organization to work, everyone has to care about why they’re there; otherwise, there’s no need for them to stay. Over the next few years, your nonprofit arts organization will be tasked with trying to succeed in a local and national environment not terribly interested in your work. Certainly not your art. It is with that in mind that we … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 1: Stop Terrorizing Your People

Last of the Summer Whine

July 23, 2024 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

The seven attributes of a successful nonprofit arts organization. You gotta do all seven to win. Before I take off for a month, I thought I’d let you in on the secret to success for nonprofit arts organizations. Note how “raising money” is not among the things on the list. That’s a business practice, not an attribute of success. Of course you’ll have to raise money! That … [Read more...] about Last of the Summer Whine

Mission Grammar for Nonprofit Arts Organizations: Flick the Prepositions and Cut the Nonsense

May 28, 2024 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

Your community requires “Why,” not “How” – and the slogans have got to go Let’s make this short and impactful. Well, impactful anyway. Get the prepositions, whether they’re attached to a phrase or not, out of your mission statement. And the slogans, too. Not only are they unnecessary, but more than that, these words set up your nonprofit arts organization for … [Read more...] about Mission Grammar for Nonprofit Arts Organizations: Flick the Prepositions and Cut the Nonsense

If Your Nonprofit Arts Organization’s Audience Is Comprised Solely of Ticket Buyers, You Missed the Point, the Boat, and Your Chance

September 19, 2023 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

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

What Are Your Nonprofit Art Board Members’ Real Responsibilities?

February 14, 2023 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

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?

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About Scene Change

As a brilliant follow-up to SCENE CHANGE, the book that rocked the nonprofit arts industry in America, Alan Harrison takes you deeper into how board members can zealously advocate for their organizations, while at the same time putting checks on all the factors that get in the way of greatness. … [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

  • No. Just No.
  • I’m Not Angry. I’m Batman.
  • What Was That? Your Arts Organization Needs Funding? Get In Line.
  • A Guy Walks Into a Room.
  • “Hope for the Best. Expect the Worst.”

Recent Comments

  1. Alan Harrison on Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 6 — Don’t Talk About It; Do It.
  2. Joyce Linehan on Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 6 — Don’t Talk About It; Do It.
  3. Trevor O’Donnell on “Duck and Cover” — Is That Your Motto for the Next 46 Months?
  4. Alan Harrison on “Duck and Cover” — Is That Your Motto for the Next 46 Months?
  5. Bob on “Duck and Cover” — Is That Your Motto for the Next 46 Months?

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