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Scene Change

Arts are essential. Your nonprofit is not.

Nonprofit Management

Nonprofit Arts Orgs: If Your Only Answer Is ‘Cut,’ You’re Asking the Wrong Question

September 30, 2025 by Alan Harrison 1 Comment

So, what’s the right question? “See what the company looks like with a $6 million budget.” “Okay, but you know the income will take a beating, too.” “See what the company looks like with a $6 million budget.” These were some of the final words spoken to me by a board member at the then-$12 million Alabama Shakespeare Festival. After a whole bunch of years of … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Orgs: If Your Only Answer Is ‘Cut,’ You’re Asking the Wrong Question

Nonprofit Arts Companies: Beware the Allure of the Headhunter

September 9, 2025 by Alan Harrison 1 Comment

It’s expensive, lazy, and a process rife with community red flags. But at least there are no money-back guarantees. Let me start by saying that I was headhunted several times for jobs and thought it was a dandy idea. I was egotistical, dumb, and thought that nonprofit arts jobs — even leadership positions — had a shelf life of about three years. I was also experienced, … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Arts Companies: Beware the Allure of the Headhunter

A Strategic Plan for Your Flailing Nonprofit Arts Organization Is Just a Waste of Time

August 19, 2025 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

As Kate Larsen so brilliantly puts it, a strategic planning session is not the same thing as a strategic plan session. I’ve contributed to them. I’ve written them. I’ve defended them. And more than once, I’ve been burned by them. But still, it’s always the first thing every board chair tells every consultant that their company really needs one. A strategic … [Read more...] about A Strategic Plan for Your Flailing Nonprofit Arts Organization Is Just a Waste of Time

SUMMER RERUN: “The Planet Will Be Fine. It’s the People Who Will Be F**ked.” — George Carlin

July 3, 2025 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

From December 2024 (just after the election): the comedian’s late-career epiphany and the nonprofit arts sector begs the question: what happens when you eliminate “hope?” We’re rounding the turn and heading into the home stretch of 2024. Your nonprofit arts organization is well into its year-end, give now while you can still get a tax deduction, do it for the children … [Read more...] about SUMMER RERUN: “The Planet Will Be Fine. It’s the People Who Will Be F**ked.” — George Carlin

SUMMER RERUN: What Would a Post-NEA (Arts) America Look Like?

June 3, 2025 by Alan Harrison 4 Comments

An all-too-prescient post from January 2025 begs you to answer the question: if WHEN the NEA’s funding is eliminated, how would that change what they YOU do? In early May 2025, Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the elimination of the NEA, NEH, and several other arts, literature, and cultural agencies. Millions of dollars of grants have already been … [Read more...] about SUMMER RERUN: What Would a Post-NEA (Arts) America Look Like?

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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

  • 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
  • Have People and Write Stuff Down

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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