{"id":1777,"date":"2026-05-14T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/?p=1777"},"modified":"2026-02-19T19:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T19:10:12","slug":"its-your-turn-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2026\/05\/14\/its-your-turn-now\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s Your Turn Now."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Write, speak out, enact your own scene change. That would be the best birthday present ever.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
It\u2019s time to move on. (Photo by Emre Ayata from Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Question everything, including what seems to be obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nonprofit arts sector is evolving, ever so slowly, into a new paradigm in which charitable acts measure success. Scrape off the old \u201csell the most tickets\u201d barnacles; they\u2019ll only hinder progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember what \u201cnews\u201d is and you\u2019ll have a better chance of making your nonprofit newsworthy. In case you\u2019ve forgotten, the Encyclopedia Brittanica calls news, \u201cnew information or a report about something that has happened recently.\u201d You can\u2019t hype something into being newsworthy. You have to do something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equity is seen as a zero-sum game; gaining it for those who\u2019ve never had it will always be a struggle. But it\u2019s a struggle worth fighting for. Risk getting fired on this particular hill; don\u2019t accept anything less, including \u201cequality.\u201d Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy the books at the bottom of this page. It\u2019s not about the sales or the royalties; I won\u2019t make a dime off these books. It\u2019s about the message and making sure your nonprofit has the ammunition to make the changes you need in order to succeed. Click here for more on that.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s my birthday today, May 14. My announcement for the day is simply this<\/strong>: I\u2019m done writing this particular blog. However, and this is important: I ain\u2019t dead yet. What did Steinbeck write in The Grapes of Wrath?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWherever they\u2019s a fight so hungry people can eat, I\u2019ll be there. Wherever they\u2019s a cop beatin\u2019 up a guy, I\u2019ll be there. I\u2019ll be in the way guys yell when they\u2019re mad an\u2019 I\u2019ll be in the way kids laugh when they\u2019re hungry n\u2019 they know supper\u2019s ready. An\u2019 when our folks eat the stuff they raise an\u2019 live in the houses they build \u2014 why, I\u2019ll be there.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s time for you to take my place.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I took it upon myself to create a platform and somehow found a way to reach over 6,000 people every week. I saw a key problem and a key solution and ran with it. Some liked what they read, some hated it. Some sent damning messages to my personal message folder; some sent praise. But if it weren\u2019t for the forward-thinking mastermind that is Douglas McLennan<\/a>, none of this would have been possible. Thanks for the gift, Doug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(I never thank enough people, so I\u2019m going to stop at Doug for now. Except this: for the dozens of you who saw fit to buy me a cup of coffee through https:\/\/ko-fi.com\/alanharrison<\/a>, thank you, too. It meant the world to me.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take my place. Report the news.<\/strong> Keep nonprofit arts leaders accountable to their communities instead of their egos. Have them lean on the nonprofit instead of the art. Art is essential and is around whether you want it or not. Nonprofit arts organizations are not essential, so they have to prove worth by measurements of charitable impact, not butts in seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one attempts to create anything but excellent art. That\u2019s the baseline, not the goal. And if the art helps no one in measurable ways, then it does not qualify as nonprofit arts organization material. Make all the noise in the world about that. Find the nonprofit arts organizations that get it. Donate to them. Urge others to do so, too. For some ideas on what just some of those organizations do, read this book.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for my future, I\u2019ll be writing a new kind of book, at least for me. It\u2019s autobiographical fiction, which should be fun. Look for it in the 99\u00a2 aisle or get it for free at the library sometime in the next year or so. It\u2019s tentatively titled Bubbe Meises<\/em>, which I\u2019ll let you look up on your own if you don\u2019t speak Yiddish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So this is the last entry, unless and until something outrageous happens. Again. Which means I\u2019ll probably write a guest article next week, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m still doing consulting with boards on how to right their particular ship and teaching guest classes wherever and whenever possible. And still having cups of coffee with just about anyone who asks. As long as people want their companies to be great \u2014 and isn\u2019t that what every nonprofit leader wants? \u2014 why, I\u2019ll be there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for reading all the way to the end. Give me a call<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
“So long, and thanks for all the fish.” \u2014 Douglas Adams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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

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

Write, speak out, enact your own scene change. That would be the best birthday present ever.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1778,"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":[21,20,22,100,40,32,29,25,28,23,24,26,19,18,17,27,99],"tags":[85,10,47,50,43],"class_list":{"0":"post-1777","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-dei","14":"category-development-and-fundraising","15":"category-diversity-equity-inclusion","16":"category-executive-director","17":"category-freedom-of-speech","18":"category-giving-tuesday","19":"category-leadership","20":"category-nonprofit","21":"category-nonprofit-arts-organizations","22":"category-philanthropy-and-donors","23":"category-scene-change","24":"tag-community","25":"tag-impact","26":"tag-mission-statement","27":"tag-nonprofit-management","28":"tag-writing","29":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/The-End-for-now.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"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":1777,"position":0},"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":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":1777,"position":1},"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 - 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It\u2019s up to you to save the sector from its own worst instincts.","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\/11\/differential-calculus-2820672_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\/2025\/11\/differential-calculus-2820672_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/differential-calculus-2820672_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/differential-calculus-2820672_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/differential-calculus-2820672_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&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":1777,"position":4},"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":1591,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2025\/11\/25\/the-2025-final-never-to-be-repeated-carol-for-nonprofit-arts-organizations\/","url_meta":{"origin":1777,"position":5},"title":"The 2025, Final, Never-To-Be-Repeated, Carol for Nonprofit Arts Organizations","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"November 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Every year about this time, another carol and generally, you don't read it. 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