{"id":382,"date":"2023-05-02T12:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T12:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/?p=382"},"modified":"2023-03-28T02:00:52","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T02:00:52","slug":"backlash-white-male-artists-are-losing-their-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/05\/02\/backlash-white-male-artists-are-losing-their-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"Backlash: White Male Artists Are Losing Their Careers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>No, it\u2019s not fair. But as everyone, including white male artists, have been told, life isn\u2019t fair.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/501c3.guru\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Making-a-living-in-the-arts-is-not-a-birthright.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Making-a-living-in-the-arts-is-not-a-birthright.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Making-a-living-in-the-arts-is-not-a-birthright.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Making-a-living-in-the-arts-is-not-a-birthright.jpg?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Making-a-living-in-the-arts-is-not-a-birthright.jpg?resize=1536%2C1025&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Making-a-living-in-the-arts-is-not-a-birthright.jpg?w=1780&amp;ssl=1 1780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the meat of this column: I am, according to a DNA site, 100% Ashkenazi Jewish Diaspora, more specifically Litvak. To white racists, I\u2019m a Jew (and not white), usually pronounced with a long \u201ce\u201d sound right after the \u201cJ,\u201d as in \u201cJ\u0113-\u00fc.\u201d To non-whites, I\u2019m a white guy. Thus, I\u2019m a member of \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.urbandictionary.com\/define.php?term=Schrodinger%27s%20Whites\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Schr\u00f6dinger\u2019s Whites<\/a>,\u201d hated by white supremacists and non-white activists alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As detailed in the following Tom Lehrer song, \u201cNational Brotherhood Week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tom Lehrer - National Brotherhood Week\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aIlJ8ZCs4jY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tom Lehrer &#8211; National Brotherhood Week<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, once you get to know me, I\u2019m more amiably confused than anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I just got off the phone with an old friend who was filled with anxiety on behalf of many of his friends. He\u2019s an actor and gets work pretty regularly, although it\u2019s always a struggle during the leaner times, which are increasing as he gets older. That\u2019s just part of the acting business, as evidenced by this old description of an actor\u2019s career:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Who\u2019s John Travolta?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Get me John Travolta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Get me a John Travolta type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Get me a young John Travolta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Who\u2019s John Travolta?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But as I listened to my friend, I heard the ache in his voice (even though the message was a text).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA huge number of artists, especially in the theater, have had their careers just halted, mid-career, and it\u2019s very, very disturbing. I believe there\u2019s going to be a lot of backlash and a lot of lawsuits, because white people are also protected by the Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I wrote him back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHere\u2019s the prism at hand for a lot of artists, especially those of color: they never even had a shot to start their careers in the first place. That\u2019s why the goal is equity, not just equality. Pendulums swing and folks will always suffer, but ultimately, we\u2019ll never know the daily discrimination issues that a Black person (or Latinx or Asian, etc.) deals with on a daily basis. I\u2019ve had people in the industry treat me differently because I\u2019m Jewish. Unearned privilege is hard to cede, but being shut out because of unearned discrimination is worse. In any case, the nonprofit version of the industry is going to have to serve community needs (including equity) over artistic vision &#8212; or go under.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\u2019s a good man. Here was his response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI hear you. It seems like a very complex problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The careers of white artists who used to work all the time \u2014 extraordinarily gifted people who do consistently incredible work, are in jeopardy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of all the equally-talented artists who never had the chance to have a career in the arts because of nothing more than the pigmentation of their skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Making a living in the arts is not a birthright, even to the talented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a clear description of equity, the word \u201cfair\u201d has to be removed. Equity isn\u2019t fair. When the playing field has been tilted against a number of groups of people for multiple generations, the leveling thereof can\u2019t be seen as \u201cfair,\u201d only \u201cequitable.\u201d Longstanding discriminatory resolutions are just that: resolutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>White, male artists don\u2019t have to disappear. That doesn\u2019t serve anyone. In fact, what it does is place a line down the middle of our relationships with people. It forces people into treating relationships as binary. Good Guys vs Bad Guys. Them against Us. Even when \u201cThem\u201d and \u201cUs\u201d have a lot in common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask your local, neighborhood Schr\u00f6dinger\u2019s white person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve seen the perils of painting people into a corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/501c3.guru\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Insurrection-storming-the-capitol1.jpg?resize=1024%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Insurrection-storming-the-capitol1.jpg?resize=1024%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Insurrection-storming-the-capitol1.jpg?resize=300%2C178&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Insurrection-storming-the-capitol1.jpg?resize=768%2C456&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Insurrection-storming-the-capitol1.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>They tend to become enraged. Violent. I hesitate to use the word \u201ccrazed,\u201d not because of its implication in the mental health community, but because I believe these people were completely rational about what they were doing. They were not crazy. They were as sane as those Nazis in Charlottesville, yelling \u201cJews will not replace us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe that\u2019s why there are numerous <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/01\/31\/10-ways-to-fight-back-against-woke-culture\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u201canti-woke\u201d diatribes in the press<\/a>. Or worse, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2022\/dec\/20\/anti-woke-race-america-history\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">reports that there are numerous \u201canti-woke\u201d diatribes in the press<\/a>. Or reports about those reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All that does is give oxygen to the most bigoted among us. Yeah, <em>that <\/em>guy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a tremendous phrase featured in the improv community: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/elliottbaybook.com\/item\/kmD66BQtTAg5DZ6-nhWzGQ\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cYes, And\u2026\u201d<\/a> In the instant creation of dramatic arc, one should make it a rule not to disagree with a partner on stage. Rather, one should take new information as fact and build another level on it wherever possible, no matter how ridiculous the scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ko-fi.com\/alanharrison\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Improv-group-ArtsJournal.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Improv-group-ArtsJournal.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Improv-group-ArtsJournal.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Improv-group-ArtsJournal.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Improv-group-ArtsJournal.jpg?w=1150&amp;ssl=1 1150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/elliottbaybook.com\/item\/kmD66BQtTAg5DZ6-nhWzGQ\">\u201cYes, And\u2026\u201d<\/a> is not only a good practice for building dramatic arc. It\u2019s a good practice for DEI practitioners as well. Rather than dismissing individuals who agree that the need exists but happen to be (by no practice of their own, just happenstance) members of a group with a \u201cbad\u201d track record on discrimination (White. Anglo-Saxon. Protestant. Cisgendered. Neurotypical. Heterosexual. Nondisabled. Wealthy. Male. Aged 30-50.), mightn\u2019t it make more sense to inform, instruct, and otherwise support them? Don\u2019t you want them to inform, instruct, and otherwise support you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Quick question: do <em>you<\/em> happen to fall into one or more of those parenthetical groups?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As DEI implementation has no moment of victory over an unnamed foe, but rather a steady series of positive events based on the idea of making ourselves better people, the engendering of crowds of support can only force those who (despite everything) refuse to change to become more isolated in their habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a country where 1\/3 of the population is (and always has been) comprised of supporters of white supremacists, maybe that\u2019s too much to ask. But gathering support perhaps ought to include people from all potential sources; even white male artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, in a quote from Lily Zheng\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elliottbaybook.com\/item\/tjoby-WikgIkaQBu35sbwg\">DEI deconstructed<\/a>, the best book on DEI implementation in the entire literary sphere (and I\u2019m not prone to hyperbole on other people\u2019s books):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.elliottbaybook.com\/item\/tjoby-WikgIkaQBu35sbwg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/dei-deconstructed.jpg?resize=367%2C551&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-386\" width=\"367\" height=\"551\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/dei-deconstructed.jpg?w=300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/dei-deconstructed.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 367px) 100vw, 367px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cWhen it comes to DEI training, taking away the agency of participants and framing learning as a remedial effort is more likely to make recipients increase their animosity toward those delivering training and even increase their negative feelings toward women, non-white groups, and other underserved communities. And there\u2019s good evidence that, over the last few decades of less-than-effective DEI work, that\u2019s what happened exactly.\u201d<\/p><cite>Lily Zheng<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"58\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Line-Flourish-2.png?resize=1024%2C58&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-73\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Line-Flourish-2.png?resize=1024%2C58&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Line-Flourish-2.png?resize=300%2C17&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Line-Flourish-2.png?resize=768%2C44&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Line-Flourish-2.png?w=1174&amp;ssl=1 1174w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ko-fi.com\/alanharrison\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/buy-me-a-coffee-for-bottom-of-articles.jpg?resize=763%2C407&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-60\" width=\"763\" height=\"407\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Based in Kirkland, Washington, <\/em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/501c3.guru\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Alan Harrison<\/em><\/a><em> is a writer and speaker specializing in nonprofit organizations, strategy, the arts, and life politics. His columns appear regularly in major publications. Contact him directly at <\/em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"mailto:alan@501c3.guru\" target=\"_blank\"><em>alan@501c3.guru<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you\u2019re feeling generous or inspired, just <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/ko-fi.com\/alanharrison\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em>click on the coffee cup<\/em><\/a><em> above. You don\u2019t have to, of course, but if you can afford it and find some value here, please provide the desperate need for caffeine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Alan is always looking for good opportunities to write and consult for nonprofits that need a hand. And, of course, that elusive <\/em><strong><em>Perfect Opportunity\u2122.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"58\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Line-Flourish-2.png?resize=1024%2C58&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-73\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Line-Flourish-2.png?resize=1024%2C58&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Line-Flourish-2.png?resize=300%2C17&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Line-Flourish-2.png?resize=768%2C44&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Line-Flourish-2.png?w=1174&amp;ssl=1 1174w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.elliottbaybook.com\/item\/WepMITbQuyd1Ad_8fzXNLQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/COVER-ART-for-ArtsJournal.jpg?resize=410%2C633&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-312\" width=\"410\" height=\"633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/COVER-ART-for-ArtsJournal.jpg?w=648&amp;ssl=1 648w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/COVER-ART-for-ArtsJournal.jpg?resize=194%2C300&amp;ssl=1 194w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 410px) 100vw, 410px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>BIG NEWS: Alan\u2019s new book, \u201cScene Change: Why Today\u2019s Nonprofit Arts Organizations Have to Stop Producing Art and Start Producing Impact\u201d will be published in January. <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elliottbaybook.com\/item\/WepMITbQuyd1Ad_8fzXNLQ\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.elliottbaybook.com\/item\/WepMITbQuyd1Ad_8fzXNLQ\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER IN THE UNITED STATES<\/strong><\/a><strong>. If you live in the UK, <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.johnhuntpublishing.com\/changemakers-books\/our-books\/scene-change-nonprofit-organizations\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>CLICK&nbsp;HERE<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Alan will be speaking on May 19 at the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/nonprofitwa.org\/washington-state-nonprofit-conference\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Washington State Nonprofit Conference<\/strong><\/a><strong> at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Tacoma, WA. The publisher has pre-printed a LIMITED NUMBER of books so that attendees can purchased a signed copy right there at the event.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A few more copies may be made available for those booking conferences, reading engagements, and speaking engagements. Recruit your local bookstore, conference panel, or boardroom to get a visit from Alan. Let Alan know if you want <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"mailto:alan@501c3.guru\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>bulk copies for your board!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>No, it\u2019s not fair. But as everyone, including white male artists, have been told, life isn\u2019t fair.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":383,"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":[21,40,32,29,28,19,18],"tags":[55],"class_list":{"0":"post-382","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-culture","8":"category-change","9":"category-charity","10":"category-dei","11":"category-diversity-equity-inclusion","12":"category-leadership","13":"category-nonprofit","14":"tag-backlash","15":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Making-a-living-in-the-arts-is-not-a-birthright.jpg?fit=1780%2C1188&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1620,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2025\/12\/09\/dear-the-ground-we-stand-on-a-letter-to-bipoc-artists\/","url_meta":{"origin":382,"position":0},"title":"Dear \u201cThe Ground We Stand On,\u201d \u2014 A Letter to BIPOC Artists","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"December 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"On June 8, 2020, a letter was sent and signed by 300 artists who were Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). It has since been signed by over 100,000 people. After 5 years, the report card shows a failing grade.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Arts and Culture&quot;","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\/Dear-White-American-Theater-letter.jpg?fit=1200%2C742&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dear-White-American-Theater-letter.jpg?fit=1200%2C742&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dear-White-American-Theater-letter.jpg?fit=1200%2C742&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dear-White-American-Theater-letter.jpg?fit=1200%2C742&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dear-White-American-Theater-letter.jpg?fit=1200%2C742&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":382,"position":1},"title":"C\u2019mon, Now. It\u2019s Not the End of the World for the Nonprofit Arts Sector.","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"November 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Blame is meaningless. The solution is obvious. You just have to want to change. (Oh right. That.)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Arts and Culture&quot;","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\/the-wheel-of-blame.jpg?fit=1200%2C650&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/the-wheel-of-blame.jpg?fit=1200%2C650&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/the-wheel-of-blame.jpg?fit=1200%2C650&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/the-wheel-of-blame.jpg?fit=1200%2C650&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/the-wheel-of-blame.jpg?fit=1200%2C650&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1628,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2025\/12\/16\/born-in-the-dsa-little-donny-dingdong-be-damned-let-everybody-vote\/","url_meta":{"origin":382,"position":2},"title":"Born in the DSA*: Little Donny Dingdong Be Damned**, Let Everybody Vote","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"December 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Let\u2019s stop cocking around and just let people vote in peace. * DSA stands for the Divided States of America (aka \u201cOne Nation, Divisible\u201d). Periodically, I\u2019ll be writing more specific takes on issues that are clearly wrong for this country, using the arts as context. If there are issues you\u2019d\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Arts and Culture&quot;","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\/ev-votes-jpg1.jpg?fit=1075%2C779&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ev-votes-jpg1.jpg?fit=1075%2C779&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ev-votes-jpg1.jpg?fit=1075%2C779&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ev-votes-jpg1.jpg?fit=1075%2C779&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ev-votes-jpg1.jpg?fit=1075%2C779&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":749,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/02\/06\/your-addiction-to-artistic-vision-means-diddly-squat-to-your-community\/","url_meta":{"origin":382,"position":3},"title":"Your Addiction to Artistic Vision Means Diddly-Squat to Your Community","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"February 6, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Nonprofit arts organizations are neither creators nor art itself. They have responsibilities to the community they serve.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Arts and Culture&quot;","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\/shooting-up.jpg?fit=1000%2C655&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/shooting-up.jpg?fit=1000%2C655&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/shooting-up.jpg?fit=1000%2C655&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/shooting-up.jpg?fit=1000%2C655&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1575,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2025\/11\/18\/a-i-and-the-arts-i-use-it-no-one-cares-should-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":382,"position":4},"title":"A.I. and the Arts \u2014 I Use It. No one cares. Should You?","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"November 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cHow democratizing,\u201d say A.I. experts. \u201cHow thrifty [cheap],\u201d says my piggy bank. \u201cHow could you?\u201d say actual artists.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Arts and Culture&quot;","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\/10\/A.I.-Image-Generator.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\/10\/A.I.-Image-Generator.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/A.I.-Image-Generator.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/A.I.-Image-Generator.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/A.I.-Image-Generator.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":297,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/04\/11\/the-closets\/","url_meta":{"origin":382,"position":5},"title":"The Closet(s).","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"April 11, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"There are a lot of closets out there with a lot of people in them.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Arts and Culture&quot;","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\/02\/wood-3199687_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\/02\/wood-3199687_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/wood-3199687_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/wood-3199687_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/wood-3199687_1920.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\/382","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=382"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":387,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382\/revisions\/387"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}