{"id":420,"date":"2023-05-30T12:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T12:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/?p=420"},"modified":"2023-04-27T05:45:37","modified_gmt":"2023-04-27T05:45:37","slug":"for-nonprofit-arts-organizations-these-are-the-days-it-never-rains-but-it-pours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2023\/05\/30\/for-nonprofit-arts-organizations-these-are-the-days-it-never-rains-but-it-pours\/","title":{"rendered":"For Nonprofit Arts Organizations, \u201cThese Are the Days It Never Rains But It Pours\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This lyric from Queen and David Bowie (\u201cUnder Pressure\u201d) says it all for the fight between \u201cdoing what we know\u201d and \u201cdoing better.\u201d Who are the casualties of battle?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the United States, Memorial Day is a federal holiday. Like most, it is spent buying things on sale, because America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The American people don\u2019t really distinguish between Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. Somehow, each holiday is, er, um, for the troops. Oh, and buy a mattress or a blender. There are actual differences in the meanings of the three days, but most Americans don\u2019t know or care about them, even if the differences are in the actual names of the holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This particular article has been posted May 30, the day after Memorial Day 2023. If you happen to be reading it much later than that, just know that the confusion of the holiday partly informed this piece. And the pressure that the confusion brings to the people of the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memorial Day only became a national<\/em> holiday in 1971, partly because it was created in the 19th<\/sup> century to honor the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. In case you don\u2019t know, the US defeated its enemy, the Confederacy, in 1865. And yet, the Confederacy lives on with statues of heroes\/traitors (depending on your outlook of the war itself), heroism\/continued civil disobedience emanating from large sectors of all former Confederate states (again, depending), and some of the strictest beliefs of natural law\/bigotry (again again, depending) in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As stated in this column before on a few occasions: when Lincoln said that \u201ca house divided against itself cannot stand,\u201d he was right. It did not stand. It had a crumbling foundation, cleaved in two down to the center of the earth. For the United States, winning the Civil War really only brushed a coat of paint over a huge crack. Which is why, like a long marriage kept together for the kids, for show, and for pride, we\u2019ve bickered among ourselves every day for about 250 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bickering causes tension and stress, more so for the witnesses of the bickering than the bickerers themselves. In the nonprofit arts world, the bickering has reached a volume and constancy at which the foundation of support has been weakened to its core. The cracks are numerous, large, and probably deadly for the industry\u2014at least for those who choose not to serve their respective communities by asking what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a standoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Break out the popcorn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On one side of the nonprofit street, tradition. Mickey and Judy and \u201cLet\u2019s put on a show!\u201d Phrases like \u201cart for art\u2019s sake\u201d and \u201cleading the audience\u201d and \u201cnurturing the soul.\u201d Expensive spectacle and intimate experiences. Rich donors artswashing their tarnished reputations. White folks. Lots of old, rich white folks clapping civilly in an expensive venue with their names on every chair, every wing, every private room. Even the artists have been bought with donations, the John D. Rockefeller Associate Conductor; the R. J. Reynolds coloratura soprano; the Sackler Family Artistic Director. Taking the show to Broadway, to London, to Beijing. Importing shows from Broadway, from London, from Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other side of the nonprofit street, your community. They need help. Real help, or people die. Between the two sides, an unlevel playing field. Guess which way it\u2019s slanted?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t know. The stakes seem awfully high to be using the vision of a particular artist as the guiding principle of a charity when people might actually die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under pressure, people tend to make choices that don\u2019t benefit the people around them. Psychologists have found<\/a>, for example, that, under stress, people tend to pull things toward them.  They seek control over the physical areas near them. They lose empathy or even sympathy toward the plight of others. They hoard supplies. They descend upon food stores and buy up all the toilet paper. They beat the hell out of each other for a gallon jug of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Predictably, during the pandemic, a significant number of people went more than a little nuts, trying to force the existence of a world where the current stressors did not exist. Incredibly, they were open to the idea of storming the Capitol, killing people, and then lying about it \u2013 even believing the lies themselves. It\u2019s a form of hoarding; delusionally stockpiling a past that no longer exists (thankfully).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How has the stress of low attendance, contrived DEI planning with no community impact, and a global pandemic affected nonprofit arts organization decision makers in the US? All we kept hearing from too many organizations\u2014especially the larger ones who already had a few shekels in the bank\u2014was a yearning to re-open. Did the nonprofit arts community really believe that its organizations were essential? The public certainly didn\u2019t believe so, regardless of the proclamations from arts organizations leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
(Photo by Mizuno K from Pexels)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The public still doesn\u2019t believe it. So here we are: an entire portion of the nonprofit sector that bristles at the idea that, as charities, helping the underserved has to be their primary intent. Nonprofit leaders are certainly under pressure, but it\u2019s not the kind of pressure that comes from without. It comes from within.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the heads of these heads are ideas that the nonprofit arts structure of old is something to protect. And yet, the production, presentation, and reason for art over the thousands of years of its existence changes constantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The logical thing to do, then, is to evolve. Even if it means that you have to disassociate with those things you\u2019ve thought or said over the years. Even if it means that something in which you were passionate in regard to arts administration might be in question. Even if your long-held beliefs about the issues that are causing your pressure may have been true in the past. Or even if you still believe they\u2019re true now. There\u2019s a tsunami of change\u2014social, societal, and in the behavioral habits of those your charity needs to serve\u2014that insists on informing you about what to do next. Tsunamis have no sense of compassion or consideration. They\u2019re unfair. It doesn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holding a stern shoulder against a rice-paper wall to hold back that tsunami of change won\u2019t work. It never has. There\u2019s too much pressure involved. Better to move to a more beneficial location of thought. Progress. The high ground, ethically speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTurned away from it all like a blind man\/Sat on a fence but it don’t work\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Based in Kirkland, Washington, <\/em>Alan Harrison<\/em><\/a> 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>alan@501c3.guru<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re feeling generous or inspired, just <\/em>click on the coffee cup<\/em><\/a> 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

Alan is always looking for good opportunities to write and consult for nonprofits that need a hand. And, of course, that elusive <\/em>Perfect Opportunity\u2122.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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. CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER IN THE UNITED STATES<\/a>. If you live in the UK, CLICK HERE<\/a>.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Bulk copies may be made available for those booking conferences, reading engagements, and speaking engagements. <\/strong>Recruit your local bookstore, conference panel, or boardroom to get a visit from Alan.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And don\u2019t forget to let Alan know if you want bulk copies for your board!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the nonprofit arts world, the bickering has reached a volume and constancy at which the foundation of support has been weakened to its core.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":421,"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":[21,20,40,32,29,28,19,18],"tags":[59],"class_list":{"0":"post-420","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-change","10":"category-charity","11":"category-dei","12":"category-diversity-equity-inclusion","13":"category-leadership","14":"category-nonprofit","15":"tag-pressure","16":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/under-pressure.jpg?fit=1300%2C760&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":124,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2022\/12\/13\/a-nonprofit-arts-leaders-christmas-carol\/","url_meta":{"origin":420,"position":0},"title":"A Nonprofit Arts Leader’s Christmas Carol","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"December 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"To the tune of \u201cHere We Go A-Wassailing,\u201d to kick off your nonprofit holiday\u00a0season (with apologies to all)...","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\/2022\/10\/GTC-Holiday-letter.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/GTC-Holiday-letter.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/GTC-Holiday-letter.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1103,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/11\/26\/the-2024-carol-for-nonprofit-arts-organizations\/","url_meta":{"origin":420,"position":1},"title":"The 2024 Carol for Nonprofit Arts Organizations","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"November 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The holiday tradition continues because we know you won\u2019t read it.","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\/10\/Happy-Badgering.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\/2024\/10\/Happy-Badgering.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Happy-Badgering.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Happy-Badgering.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Happy-Badgering.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1342,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2025\/03\/25\/nonprofit-arts-success-in-a-changing-environment-tip-6-dont-talk-about-it-do-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":420,"position":2},"title":"Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 6 \u2014 Don\u2019t Talk About It; Do It.","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"March 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do. It\u2019s right there in the phrase.","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\/03\/2-women-black-white.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\/2025\/03\/2-women-black-white.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2-women-black-white.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2-women-black-white.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2-women-black-white.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&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":420,"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":1079,"url":"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\/","url_meta":{"origin":420,"position":4},"title":"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?","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"November 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is election day. Elect to quash the D\u014dnW\u00e4n\u00fcs and their toxicity.","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\/10\/I-donwanu.jpg?fit=1000%2C952&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/I-donwanu.jpg?fit=1000%2C952&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/I-donwanu.jpg?fit=1000%2C952&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/I-donwanu.jpg?fit=1000%2C952&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2022\/09\/28\/whats-the-worst-that-could-happen-to-your-nonprofit-arts-organization-whats-the-best\/","url_meta":{"origin":420,"position":5},"title":"What\u2019s The Worst That Could Happen to Your Nonprofit Arts Organization? What\u2019s the Best?","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"September 28, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In the day-to-day panic that engulfs the average nonprofit arts organization leader, especially those in the United States, sometimes the goal is to make it to tomorrow. 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