{"id":1695,"date":"2026-02-12T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/?p=1695"},"modified":"2026-02-12T16:28:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T16:28:36","slug":"as-regional-arts-elephants-struggle-some-defy-the-odds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2026\/02\/12\/as-regional-arts-elephants-struggle-some-defy-the-odds\/","title":{"rendered":"As Regional Arts Elephants Struggle, Some Defy the Odds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Naples, Fla., and Milwaukee are quite different, but have one thing in common: They are home to regional arts elephants that are thriving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Step right up and see the elephants! It\u2019s not their purpose in life, but hey, they\u2019re elephants! (Photo by Wayne Jackson on Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

America\u2019s regional elephants are facing difficult times. But not all of them are struggling. Some are booming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Wisconsin, Milwaukee Repertory Elephants (The Phant) has finished the first phase of an $80 million renovation of its three-elephant-house complex in an old power plant along the Milwaukee River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Naples, Fla., Gulfshore Elephants House (The Mammoth) has just begun its second season in a new $80 million complex with a curved facade meant to evoke the nearby sand and sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

$80 million seems to be the magic number to indicate success, according to me, myself, and I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both pachyderm plants are now breaking their own records. The Phant\u2019s first elephant show on the renovated main stage has just ended its run as the highest-grossing production in the company\u2019s 71-year history. And The Mammoth\u2019s current elephant show is breaking every record for that company, with a nightly waiting list for people seeking seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mammoth\u2019s chief executive and producing artistic director described her programming mantra as \u201cup and known.\u201d Translation: When deciding which shows to produce, she selects ones that are upbeat and well-known because her paying audience is more important than the underserved people of southwest Florida, of which there are a surprising number, including a more than 65% increase among those without housing<\/a>. Even though she runs a charity, she doesn\u2019t want people to know it\u2019s a charity; the best way to do that is to \u2014 and this is the brilliant tactic \u2014 not be charitable at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re at a moment now where there\u2019s a lot of poke-you-in-the-eye entertainment, like, \u2018I don\u2019t care what you think \u2014 this is good for you, and I\u2019m going to make you feel like a terrible person, and you better buy a ticket anyway,\u2019\u201d said the Kristi Noem lookalike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy first covenant is with the audience, and I care about what they think,\u201d she added. \u201cPeople don\u2019t want to spend money on a show they don\u2019t think they\u2019re going to like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And charitable organizations such as The Mammoth obviously don\u2019t have to act as charities in order to attract donors. After all, the donors are donating so that they can attend. Elitism is alive and well in Naples, Fla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Milwaukee, The Phant\u2019s leaders, though making different choices in all sorts of ways, make a similar point. \u201cWe actually like our people,\u201d said its artistic director. \u201cWe\u2019re not trying to be didactic and lecture people. And honestly, we don\u2019t care about the folks in Milwaukee who are struggling as long as we can get paying customers to see the elephants.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A quick look at The Phant\u2019s annual report, pages 10-13<\/a>, spell it out for all of Wisconsin and the rest of America to see. On these four pages, falling under the heading of \u201cImpact Report,\u201d they mention their commitment to education (a competition, several school elephant shows, immersion days \u00ad\u2014 where they get to hear from an actual technical artist! \u2014 and other activities, although there is no mention of follow-up or any proof whatsoever that the students actually learned anything at all from The Phant) and their capital campaign, which somehow is dedicated as a place of social impact because a new building was built. More room for the elephants and elephant lovers, despite the fact that 23.3% of the population of Milwaukee falls under the poverty line<\/a> and could use a little help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a struggling industry, these two entertainment behemoths \u2014 and a handful of others \u2014 are models of success: They are producing a healthy menu of elephant shows, drawing large audiences, running budget surpluses, and raising money for capital projects, because that\u2019s more important than living up to their responsibilities as charitable organizations. They don\u2019t deserve a nickel of support as failing charitable organizations neglecting to provide charity as their central cause, but they\u2019re successful because of all those tickets they sold this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huzzah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Okay, I\u2019ll stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On December 15 of last year, The New York Times<\/em> printed an article by Daniel Paulson<\/a> with a similar title as this column. And while the two theaters mentioned in Paulson\u2019s article are having financially successful seasons, their lack of charity is overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t blame the companies\u2019 staff leadership. These are honorable people who are just doing as they\u2019ve been instructed by their na\u00efve and uninformed boards: \u201cMake money. Present good art if you have to, but the bottom line is financial, not charitable nor even artistic impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What an insult to the dozens of arts organizations across America that are doing the right thing. And by \u201cthe right thing,\u201d it doesn\u2019t mean that they have to provoke people with art. But it does mean that they have to prove that their communities are better off in tangible ways by the impact of their art. Others have proven worth. Not these two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s unfair to single them out as uncharitable. Most theaters are uncharitable except for the ones that specifically aren\u2019t. If you want to write an article about success, write one about Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis<\/a>, a city that again has had to deal with fascist-like police behavior in the murders of Ren\u00e9e Good, Alex Pretti, and the countless other atrocities committed by ICE agents (many of whom were found guilty of crimes on January 6, 2021 but were pardoned by Little Donny Dingdong).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Not so hoity-toity, but as a charitable arts organization, they do the right thing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens on the stages of American nonprofit arts organizations can change the lives of those who need a break. I\u2019ve written about a few: the Louisville Orchestra<\/a>, Out of Hand Theater<\/a> (Atlanta), Voices of Our City Choir<\/a> (San Diego), Arts Capacity<\/a> (at prisons across America), Forklift Danceworks<\/a> (based in Austin but working nationally), and, of course, Mixed Blood<\/a>. There are dozens more, if not hundreds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can we please stop glorifying nonprofit arts organizations that do not live up to their charitable responsibilities?<\/em><\/strong> Or worse, glorifying those that say <\/em>they do but really don\u2019t?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does a company, for example, sell or give tickets away to students with no follow-up testing or surveying as to whether the students actually learned during their time interacting with the company? If so, they’re running a failing program not worth support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? Because it doesn\u2019t matter if 10,000 students attend if you can\u2019t prove they actually learned something. That\u2019s the kind of thing that makes an educational organization an educational organization, instead of a babysitting organization with pretty lights, sets, and good actors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who knows? Maybe a generation of elephant houses has to go extinct under the weight of extreme elitism, toxic decision-making, and please-don\u2019t-make-me-act-like-a-charity activities. Maybe then will the sector understand that for this all to work, art is a tool and not a product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"Scene<\/a>
If you want your nonprofit arts organization to thrive, just pick up this inexpensive trilogy. If not, I can let you know how to throw “Going Out Of Business” sales.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Please click on the cup of coffee if you support truth-telling. And the next time you find yourself in the Seattle area, let’s have a cup together!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Can we please stop glorifying nonprofit arts organizations that do not live up to their charitable responsibilities?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1696,"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":[21,20,22,100,40,32,19,18,17,99],"tags":[85,170,10,50],"class_list":{"0":"post-1695","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-board-of-trustees","10":"category-book-recommendation","11":"category-change","12":"category-charity","13":"category-leadership","14":"category-nonprofit","15":"category-nonprofit-arts-organizations","16":"category-scene-change","17":"tag-community","18":"tag-education","19":"tag-impact","20":"tag-nonprofit-management","21":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/pexels-waynejackson-94511441.jpg?fit=1000%2C618&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1517,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2025\/10\/07\/a-punchy-outspoken-argument-for-how-nonprofit-arts-organizations-should-be-run\/","url_meta":{"origin":1695,"position":0},"title":"“A PUNCHY, OUTSPOKEN ARGUMENT FOR HOW NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE RUN.”","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"October 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\"An example-driven new map to success in the realm of nonprofit theater.\" \u2014 Kirkus Reviews.","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":"Scene Change, Scene Change 2, and Scene Change 3 - 3 books to improve your arts organization","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/3-book-titles.jpg?fit=1200%2C606&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/3-book-titles.jpg?fit=1200%2C606&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/3-book-titles.jpg?fit=1200%2C606&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/3-book-titles.jpg?fit=1200%2C606&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/3-book-titles.jpg?fit=1200%2C606&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":989,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/07\/01\/this-just-in-a-new-and-unedited-review-for-scene-change\/","url_meta":{"origin":1695,"position":1},"title":"This Just In: A New (and Unedited) Review for \u201cSCENE CHANGE\u201d","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"July 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\"It clearly comes from a place of love for the subversive and utopian possibilities of the arts.\"","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\/2024\/07\/Collective-Ink-Book-Cover.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Collective-Ink-Book-Cover.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Collective-Ink-Book-Cover.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Collective-Ink-Book-Cover.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Collective-Ink-Book-Cover.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1683,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2025\/12\/30\/scene-change-3-just-named-to-kirkus-reviews-25-best-indies-of-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":1695,"position":2},"title":"“SCENE CHANGE 3” Just Named to Kirkus Reviews’ “25 Best Indies of 2025!”","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"December 30, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"If you're serious about succeeding as a nonprofit arts organization, you're going to want to pick up the trilogy at your favorite bookstore.","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\/2025\/12\/Scene-change-3-with-sky.jpg?fit=1200%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Scene-change-3-with-sky.jpg?fit=1200%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Scene-change-3-with-sky.jpg?fit=1200%2C640&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Scene-change-3-with-sky.jpg?fit=1200%2C640&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Scene-change-3-with-sky.jpg?fit=1200%2C640&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1782,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2026\/04\/02\/doing-the-right-thing-with-nonprofit-arts-organizations-like-walking-in-high-heels-through-meat\/","url_meta":{"origin":1695,"position":3},"title":"Doing the Right Thing With Nonprofit Arts Organizations: \u201cLike Walking in High Heels Through Meat\u201d","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"April 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"...while the attention to charity has evolved, the nonprofit arts behemoth class has 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\/2026\/02\/Three-women-walking-in-high-heels-through-meat.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Three-women-walking-in-high-heels-through-meat.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Three-women-walking-in-high-heels-through-meat.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Three-women-walking-in-high-heels-through-meat.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Three-women-walking-in-high-heels-through-meat.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":543,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/09\/19\/if-your-nonprofit-arts-organizations-audience-is-comprised-solely-of-ticket-buyers-you-missed-the-point-the-boat-and-your-chance\/","url_meta":{"origin":1695,"position":4},"title":"If Your Nonprofit Arts Organization\u2019s Audience Is Comprised Solely of Ticket Buyers, You Missed the Point, the Boat, and Your Chance","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"September 19, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you stuck by your audience? Are you stuck with your audience? Would you like to get unstuck?","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\/07\/ripped-ticket1.jpg?fit=1100%2C648&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ripped-ticket1.jpg?fit=1100%2C648&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ripped-ticket1.jpg?fit=1100%2C648&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ripped-ticket1.jpg?fit=1100%2C648&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ripped-ticket1.jpg?fit=1100%2C648&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":757,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/02\/13\/nonprofit-arts-organizations-you-missed-the-point-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":1695,"position":5},"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":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695","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=1695"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1767,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695\/revisions\/1767"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1696"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}