{"id":844,"date":"2024-04-09T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/?p=844"},"modified":"2024-04-09T13:51:40","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T13:51:40","slug":"useful-idiots-harmless-kitsch-and-nonprofit-arts-organizations-doing-the-right-thing-no-matter-what-part-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/04\/09\/useful-idiots-harmless-kitsch-and-nonprofit-arts-organizations-doing-the-right-thing-no-matter-what-part-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Useful Idiots, Harmless Kitsch, and Nonprofit Arts Organizations Doing the Right Thing, No Matter What (Part Two)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A two-part column about you, your nonprofit arts company, and the power of your choices<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
You have no idea what it is to be this woman. Until you do.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Continued from last week) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, we talked about people-pleasing. I urge you to read that piece<\/a> before this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Among the two choices we utilize as humans in unconscious reaction to dissonance, attack, or unreasonable pressure is the idea of \u201cfight.\u201d If you\u2019re on the job, proud of your work, relatively self-assured in the plans you have for the company, and can find \u201cyour people\u201d from your local, regional, and national people \u2013 and you know exactly who they are \u2013 you may choose this option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile\/Be yourself no matter what they say\u201d (Sting, 1987)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say that you\u2019re from outer space and you\u2019re radically intelligent. You present as human, except for that aqua-green hue of the skin on your elbows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
This isn’t you. Until it is. (Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve gained knowledge, experience, and great acclaim as a collaborative artist working in the theater in America. You\u2019re well-known for your affinity to produce stories about those whose histories have been left untold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A financially flailing organization, run badly by alleged sexual predators on both sides of its leadership executive perch, one allegedly drunk and the other allegedly making sure that no one ever sues, has hired a couple of well-intended artistic directors to mostly abject, dismal failure (because they were hired to do exactly what their predecessors had done, except without the backstage drama) and is seeking a new direction, or so they say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The search committee, led by board members, wants to be seen as leaders in the country in all progressive senses. They hire you, knowing your background, your goals, and your affinity to serve the people instead of serving the art. You\u2019ve told them dozens of times that the art doesn\u2019t need to be served, but there are a whole lot of people in this region that do, and this charitable organization can do exactly that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You radically want to change the purpose of this nice medium-sized arts company. Seeing that decades of well-worn White\/Eurocentric worship in a gilded, Puritan bubble has separated the company from its own community (not the donor community, the whole <\/em>community), you have predictably <\/em>chosen a path that includes not only these untold stories, but brings them to the people instead of forcing those same people who have experienced trauma from those same Puritans that dominated your company\u2019s history. You start taking your plays out of the hallowed theater building, with or without sets, straight to community centers, under overpasses for communities of the unhoused, into neighborhood recreation centers and gyms, to lobbies of Section 8 housing, and to colleges and universities nearby whose students are tired of revering dead, White, European artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your work and your plans garner a gift from a national foundation of $1,000,000 for the company \u2013 not because of its past work or reputation, but because you have founded a future movement to tell these particular stories and prove the impact in charitable metrics (not just artistic attractiveness).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of the gift, the board is pissed off. Even those with progressive backgrounds are somewhere between puzzled and horrified by the new version of the company. You have acted as you always have, as you always will, and there is a great deal of good that will follow. Sure, your organization will likely lose some of the gilded Puritans from its stakeholder base. They will wail about how the company \u201cisn\u2019t meant for us,\u201d which will be repeated not only to you, but in secret meetings with board members behind your back. They won\u2019t consider the fact that in its first several decades, the city and county in which your theater has existed has, in effect, told 98% of its citizens that its art \u201cisn\u2019t meant for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, you suffer the ignorance and soberly engage in the battle. After all, you have the facts. You have the moral high-ground. You expose the intrigue. You expose the previous alleged sexual predatory acts of those whose names are lionized within the walls of the structure<\/em>. You fight. Your contract is beautifully written to protect you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your detractors consider you a narcissist, interested in your well-being ahead of the company\u2019s. This astonishes you, because you believe that, as a group, they are doing that very thing. And you both might be right, even if they\u2019re completely acting out of bigotry against green-elbowed beings and insist on plunging the company into the final puddles of a drying oasis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s difficult to maneuver your craft when the lake has more alligators than water. In this case, the ending is unknown, but with lawyers lined up on both sides, the best thing to do is to continue to do the right work. No matter what. And if they choose to close the place down, that\u2019s on them, not on you. After all, you\u2019re doing exactly what a charitable organization is supposed <\/em>to do. Let the companies led by the Puritans serve their kind. It\u2019s unsustainable in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serve the people. Especially those who have been so greatly un-served. It\u2019s more important to lift a community and close down than to serve bigots and stay open, because no matter how much you hope that things will change, they won\u2019t. Hope is not a strategy. Choose greatness over survival, no matter how much it hurts. Aspirational greatness feels a hell of a lot better than fruitless people-pleasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

THIS FRIDAY! ONE NIGHT ONLY!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re in the Atlanta region or within a day’s drive, come and see Ariel Fristoe of the world-renowned Out Of Hand Theater and me talk at Charis Books and More.<\/a> We’ll have some news, there will be a presentation from Out Of Hand about health equity (and the lack thereof), and we’ll talk about why companies like Out Of Hand “get it” about the purpose of local arts organizations serving the folks who need help the most. Mostly, we’ll have a lively conversation about the purpose of art, toxic stakeholders, and how nonprofit arts organizations are charities, just like your local food bank.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Click on the image for more information, how to reserve your free ticket, AND HOW TO STREAM if you’re not coming in person. Join us!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last week, we talked about people-pleasing. I urge you to read that piece before this one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":845,"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":[21,20,22,100,40,32,29,28,23,19,18,17,99],"tags":[10,109],"class_list":{"0":"post-844","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-diversity-equity-inclusion","15":"category-executive-director","16":"category-leadership","17":"category-nonprofit","18":"category-nonprofit-arts-organizations","19":"category-scene-change","20":"tag-impact","21":"tag-out-of-hand-theater","22":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/tattoo-woman.jpg?fit=2000%2C1319&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"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":844,"position":0},"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. But this will be the last one ever, so please make it count.","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\/10\/Christmas-Carolers.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Christmas-Carolers.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Christmas-Carolers.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Christmas-Carolers.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"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":844,"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 - 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":1103,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/11\/26\/the-2024-carol-for-nonprofit-arts-organizations\/","url_meta":{"origin":844,"position":2},"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":1756,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2026\/03\/26\/dog-on-a-cold-stone-floor-or-when-nonprofit-arts-organizations-obsess-about-the-art-more-than-the-people\/","url_meta":{"origin":844,"position":3},"title":"\u201cDog on a Cold Stone Floor,\u201d or When Nonprofit Arts Organizations Obsess About the Art More Than the People","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"March 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Art is a universal good. No argument. Nonprofit arts organizations are not art, and therefore are not a universal good. No argument there, either.","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\/Dog-on-a-Cold-Stone-Floor.jpg?fit=950%2C634&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Dog-on-a-Cold-Stone-Floor.jpg?fit=950%2C634&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Dog-on-a-Cold-Stone-Floor.jpg?fit=950%2C634&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Dog-on-a-Cold-Stone-Floor.jpg?fit=950%2C634&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1048,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/09\/17\/nonprofit-arts-organizations-whats-a-community\/","url_meta":{"origin":844,"position":4},"title":"Nonprofit Arts Organizations: What\u2019s a \u201cCommunity?\u201d","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"September 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Say it, out loud. What is the definition of \u201ccommunity\u201d to your nonprofit arts organization? It may not be the community to which you claim membership.","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\/09\/inigo-square.jpg?fit=1000%2C864&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/inigo-square.jpg?fit=1000%2C864&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/inigo-square.jpg?fit=1000%2C864&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/inigo-square.jpg?fit=1000%2C864&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1056,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/scenechange\/2024\/10\/15\/why-do-donors-ask-for-irrelevant-data\/","url_meta":{"origin":844,"position":5},"title":"Why Do Donors Ask for Irrelevant Data?","author":"Alan Harrison","date":"October 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Could it be that you never talked to them about your nonprofit\u2019s charitable goals and how they mesh with the donor\u2019s? 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