{"id":1079,"date":"2024-11-05T11:01:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T11:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/?p=1079"},"modified":"2024-11-05T13:49:43","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T13:49:43","slug":"why-does-transforming-a-country-of-donwanus-takes-just-as-much-effort-than-transforming-a-nonprofit-arts-industry-of-donwanus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/11\/05\/why-does-transforming-a-country-of-donwanus-takes-just-as-much-effort-than-transforming-a-nonprofit-arts-industry-of-donwanus\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does Transforming a Country of D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fcs Take Just as Much Effort Than Transforming a Nonprofit Arts Industry of D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fcs?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Is charitable resistance just another instance of the Peter Principle at play at your nonprofit arts organization?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
For the uninitiated, a simple sketch of the Peter Principle. (Image: Jono Hey, sketchplanations.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s election day in the United States. November 5. If you\u2019re not reading this on November 5, then it is not election day in the United States, but it\u2019s likely there is still no real result as yet. Although\u2026who knows? Maybe the country\u2019s citizens either became incredibly smart or incredibly stupid en masse<\/em> \u2014 enough for general agreement from the corporate press folks to call it for one candidate or the other and for both candidates to agree on the results. It could happen. People accept change easily, without complication, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cue the insurrectionists and the rewritten history lovers. They are the leading source of D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fcs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, while the US\u2019s version of democracy continues to get eaten by demonic capitalism gone bad, let\u2019s talk about the D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fcs affecting progress with your local nonprofit arts organizations and their leaders\u2019 unwillingness to face the most important issue that keeps them from succeeding (except in drips and drabs). But first, a short dive into the Peter Principle<\/a>, as described in the sketch above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Dr. Laurence J. Peter\u2019s book, The Peter Principle: Why Things Always Go Wrong<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Dr. Peter asks the question at hand for nonprofit arts organizations right now: \u201cWhy is incompetence so maddeningly rampant and so vexingly triumphant? The Peter Principle, the eponymous law Dr. Laurence J. Peter coined, explains that everyone in a hierarchy \u2014 from the office intern to the CEO, from the low-level civil servant to a nation\u2019s president \u2014 will inevitably rise to his or her level of incompetence. Dr. Peter explains why incompetence is at the root of everything we endeavor to do \u2014 why schools bestow ignorance, why governments condone anarchy, why courts dispense injustice, why prosperity causes unhappiness, and why utopian plans never generate utopias.\u201d (from the Harper Collins description)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we round the quarter pole of the 21st<\/sup> century, it has become clear that the utopian plans of too many behemoth arts organizations depend on a single artist\u2019s vision. That vision, when it centers on using the power of the charity to express positive, measurable change on a community that is begging for it, can be a catalyzing force, making the charity worthy of support. But when that vision is internal \u2014 when it centers around the art but doesn\u2019t answer the community\u2019s needs, just its donors\u2019 wants \u2014 the whole industry\u2019s power can get flushed into irrelevant nonexistence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the dinosaurs in charge believed that they were impervious to extraterrestrial rock-throwing because of the majesty of their power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Famous last words: \u201cChange? Me? D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fc. Rowr.\u201d (Image by Ray Shrewsberry from Pixabay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After 30 years in this business, I know why the Peter Principle occurs so often. In the main, it has to do with justification. If Peter was correct in his determination that \u201cAmerica is a country that doesn’t know where it is going but is determined to set a speed record getting there,\u201d the corollary must be equally true. \u201cThe nonprofit arts industry generally knows that where it\u2019s going is a failure spiral, but it\u2019s their <\/em>failure spiral, so they celebrate it as achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply put, the richest source of D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fcs in America courses through nonprofit arts organizations across America. It\u2019s hurting the industry, as shown by the continual bankruptcies, near-bankruptcies, and closings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blanket statements, of course, are just that: general. They don\u2019t apply to everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, by now, if you haven\u2019t figured it out, a D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fc is a leader entrenched in familiar malfunction scenarios, so entrenched that the idea of change is not merely anathema, but dangerous to the legacy left by that same leader and his\/her (but mostly his) mentors. They are the ones who argue that there is a purity to the production of art that exempts the charities from performing the duties it agreed to perform when seeking a nonprofit status. One such D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fc wrote recently,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe majority of community nonprofits are losing money on programs and services each year which is in fact the point of a nonprofit. They are here to serve their communities without the need to make a profit for shareholders, but it doesn\u2019t make fiscal solvency any less crucial to the nonprofit. There are still bills to pay and money does not appear out of thin air. Nonprofits need to be run like a business, but with exceptions knowing that certain programs will lose money but serve the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pretzel logic, but I know where it comes from. The obsession with money as impact is a board-driven determinant, not a community-based one. In fact, with artistic funding drying up faster than the Dead Sea, it has become clear that funders (foundation, government, individual) want to see results based not on how many people attended, but on why and how their lives were made better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many arts leaders are artists that have risen through the ranks. Artists have a different responsibility than arts organizations. So, with little or no knowledge of the nonprofit purpose of their company, their rise to the top reveals a zealous belief that if their predecessor was enabled by a board and other executives to eschew the charity responsibility, then they should be able to as well. Sixth-grade thinking always rises to the top with D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fcs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
(Image by Alexander Krivitskiy from Pixabay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some arts nonprofit simply D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fc measure their impact; in fact, most who don\u2019t say it\u2019s somehow \u201cimpossible\u201d to measure. Other D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fcs subscribe to the idea that education without testing is enough, although I\u2019m sure they wouldn\u2019t want their kids to endure that at their elementary school. \u201cTo believe that learning doesn\u2019t take place just because you don\u2019t measure it is absurd,\u201d said one reader. She may have missed the point on this: I believe that you simply don\u2019t know if any learning is ever taking place without measuring. That\u2019s what testing is \u2014 a widely-practiced form of measurement of efficacy. If you D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fc test and collect the right data, as one teacher put it to me, you\u2019re just guessing as to whether what your organization is doing is impactful at all. Or if it\u2019s just child\u2019s play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guessing is the safe harbor of the D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fcs, I suppose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve talked about this before, but it bears repeating. There is a big difference between art, artists, and arts organizations. Only art is essential<\/strong> in that it exists (like air). Artists are magical <\/strong>in that they can take disparate ideas and materials and create a new piece of art with its own intrinsic value. Arts organizations are not essential<\/strong> in the purest sense of the word; art and artists existed before them and will exist after they\u2019re all extinct. Nonprofit arts organizations have to prove worth \u2014 just like any other business \u2014 in order to deserve support. Proving worth is not a product of financial prowess. Neither money nor the subjective idea of \u201cexcellence\u201d are the coin of the realm for the nonprofit arts industry; charitable impact is. If they rid themselves of their D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fc attitudes toward impact, measurement thereof, and community service requested by their community, <\/em>they\u2019ve got a shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, after years of screaming, arguments, paranoia, fear-mongering, xenophobia, talking heads, lies, the promulgation of those lies, insurrections, and other byproducts of a democracy that\u2019s almost gone, it\u2019s Tuesday, November 5. Election day for the leader of the ultimate country of D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fcs. It\u2019s not a good<\/em> democracy, but we had a nice run, didn\u2019t we?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
A tantalizing 100 miles\/161 km \u00a0away. A reminder for when I finally decide that I just D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fc anymore. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oh, and if you\u2019re not from America and you\u2019re baffled about how this election thing is supposed to work, don\u2019t worry. It\u2019s not you. It\u2019s US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today is election day. Elect to quash the D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fcs and their toxicity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,20,100,40,32,29,25,28,23,19,18,17,27,99],"tags":[121,36,10],"class_list":{"0":"post-1079","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-culture","8":"category-board-of-directors","9":"category-book-recommendation","10":"category-change","11":"category-charity","12":"category-dei","13":"category-development-and-fundraising","14":"category-diversity-equity-inclusion","15":"category-executive-director","16":"category-leadership","17":"category-nonprofit","18":"category-nonprofit-arts-organizations","19":"category-philanthropy-and-donors","20":"category-scene-change","21":"tag-donwanu","22":"tag-election","23":"tag-impact","24":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/I-donwanu.jpg?fit=1000%2C952&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":757,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/02\/13\/nonprofit-arts-organizations-you-missed-the-point-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":1079,"position":0},"title":"Nonprofit Arts Organizations: You Missed the Point. Again.","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"February 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Yes, you're a nonprofit. Big deal. Like tennis, if you don't serve well, it's your fault.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Tennis-ball-into-the-net.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Tennis-ball-into-the-net.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Tennis-ball-into-the-net.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Tennis-ball-into-the-net.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Tennis-ball-into-the-net.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":627,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/11\/28\/nonprofit-arts-organizations-in-2024-theres-going-to-be-a-lot-of-noise-take-advantage\/","url_meta":{"origin":1079,"position":1},"title":"Nonprofit Arts Organizations: In 2024, There\u2019s Going to Be a Lot of Noise. 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Impact is, whether you want it to be or not.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/man-5545037_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/man-5545037_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/man-5545037_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/man-5545037_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/man-5545037_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":607,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/11\/07\/cmon-now-its-not-the-end-of-the-world-for-the-nonprofit-arts-sector\/","url_meta":{"origin":1079,"position":2},"title":"C\u2019mon, Now. 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Not \u201cyou,\u201d as in \u201cyou who run or donate to nonprofits.\u201d \u201cYou\u201d as in \u201ceveryone who pays taxes in the United States.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In "Arts and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/category\/arts-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Nervous-Smile.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Nervous-Smile.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Nervous-Smile.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Nervous-Smile.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Nervous-Smile.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1079"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1119,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1079\/revisions\/1119"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}