I am a Trekker. I am not ashamed to admit that I own an (original series) Captain’s uniform (don’t call it a costume, please), my own set of “Vulcan ears” and an eclectic array of items both purchased and received as gifts including, yes, my very own tribble.
As a kid, countless idyllic Saturday nights began with a Star Trek rerun (at 6pm on Channel 11 in New York) on a black & white TV while the babysitter heated up my frozen pizza as my parents departed for a night of theatre or opera in the City.
Of course, I have seen every episode of every show and every movie. I’m a true Star Trek omnivore – eager and appreciative of every incarnation past, present & future.
I share this because I want you to know how SURPRISED I was to recently discover a question about the Star Trek universe that I had never before thought to ask – and it bears direct relevance to the work of those of us who work in the non-profit arts & cultural sector.
Why does the Starship Enterprise have two “nacelles?” (I am referring, of course, to the torpedo-shaped appendages that extend from the Starship’s stern and which are responsible for enabling the ship to attain “warp speed.”)
A non-profit organization is a lot like a Starship. They are both “mission-based” institutions navigated by an experienced crew whose skills, experiences, talents and interactions with each other enable the ship to visit “strange new worlds” – or if you will allow, “to seek out new art forms and civilizations.”
The “saucer section” of our ship (our stages, galleries, festival spaces and the like) is dedicated to our mission of exploration The cause is never-ending. It is where the crew conducts research, interacts with other species and considers its place in the universe.
Below deck is the area dedicated to engineering. Our administrative offices are the “engine room” where we work to harness the power of the “warp core” to sustain the crew and advance our mighty Starship through space. From those mechanics extend the two “nacelles” that specifically drive the Starship forward.
We understand that “money” is the fuel of any company’s or organization’s engine room. But what are the “nacelles” that they power?
For the non-profit organization, they are: “Philanthropy” and “Entrepreneurship.”
- “Philanthropy” recognizes the spirit of adventure that is the basis of arts & cultural expression and of the organizations that produce & present those opportunities. True philanthropy doesn’t ask “what will you accomplish?” Instead, it commands, “Boldly Go.. Seek out new life and new civilizations.” Philanthropy charges us to push further & further out into uncharted space where discovery is its own reward.
- “Entrepreneurship” represents the reality that our ship is backed by investors who expect to receive a return on their investment. In this realm, artistic and cultural experience is a means to an end rather than an end in its own right. Ultimately entrepreneurship concerns itself with producing greater value than was originally invested. (And, at least in theory, that return will power even greater investments going forward.)
That the modern arts & cultural organization is powered by both of these “nacelles” is a fact, not a lament. There’s a saying that goes: “There are no atheists in a foxhole.” – and I similarly suspect that there exist no non-profit organizations (or grantors) that are purely philanthropic. We understand and accept that reality.
However, let’s recognize that our Starships are traveling through a patch of rough (economic) space. It is a strange new world, indeed, in which even philanthropists ask up front, “What will you discover and when will you discover it?” and a company’s denial of philanthropic support states that the proposal didn’t “yield sufficient lead generation” as if philanthropy was supposed to be a direct extension of a company’s advertising strategy.
Like I said, this is not a lament. There is no pining for a return to the classic series.
But I do think we must recognize that our Starships DO require BOTH types of traction to make them stable and sustainable. I don’t quite have the single great solution to propose. But now is surely an opportune time for us all to be thinking about how we might upgrade our Starships to make them ready for the next generation.
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