The President's budget proposal to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts is merely an "opening argument." A very long legislative process now begins which will, hopefully, culminate in a budget that reflects moderation and compromise. Our advocates at Americans for the Arts have long prepared for this day - and it's reassuring to know that the arts have friends on both sides of the political aisle. Of course, nothing is assured until … [Read more...]
Your Mood is Understandable but Unacceptable
I haven't worn a Mood Ring since the late 1970's but it's time for that fad to return. I know, I know... they never really worked all that well. Regardless of how I was feeling inside (and as a teenager, well, you know...) the color remained a murky green. Still, I recall how friends would playfully grab each other's hands and exclaim, "Let's see how you're feeling!" So go ahead and slip an imaginary mood ring on your finger right now. … [Read more...]
Art Is As Art Does
A recent dinner conversation with friends rolled around to the question: "What is art?" A long conversation ensued. Someone offered up Wikipedia's definition: "Art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts, expressing the author's imaginative or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power." This group of arts administrators was unsatisfied. As … [Read more...]
Chatting with Playwright Rich Orloff… on Relevance.
What is the value of relevance? As an arts marketer, I believe that relevance is the mandatory price of admission to an audience's attention. That which is irrelevant is routinely ignored or discarded. And for artists and arts organizations, relevance is the essential fuel of viability - the spark that ignites recognition, appreciation, attendance, support, discussion and opportunities for advancement. Nobody aspires to irrelevance. But … [Read more...]
How Relevant is My Arts Organization? Take this Self-Test!
Arts administrators worry. We worry about cash flow. We worry about achieving and sustaining consensus. We worry about attracting and retaining quality staff team. We worry about logistics. We worry about outstanding grant applications and whether last year's donors will continue their support this year. We worry about deadlines and opening nights. We worry about why ticket sales are underperforming budget expectations. We worry about … [Read more...]
A Small Detail, A Big Idea & Why You Should Care
Let's marvel at a small detail that reveals a big idea... Here's the opening sentence of a just-received press release from the City of Mesa (AZ)... Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SC, “Santander Consumer USA”), a consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance, third-party servicing and delivering superior service to more than 2.5 million customers across the full credit spectrum, announced it will expand its operations to … [Read more...]
The 4 Types of Audiences
You want to attract, grow, diversify and sustain your audience? Great! But the biggest mistake you can make is to think of that audience as a single entity. True, "your audience" converged at some point - whether for a particular night's performance, during the run of a production or exhibition, into your venue, or some other way onto your mailing list. But the happenstance of their intersection doesn't mean they share the same motivations, … [Read more...]
What is Audience Engagement? (Part 3)
This is SUCH a great thought-provoking conversation, I'm thrilled for it to continue… Again, delighted (and grateful) to share the wisdom of respected friends and colleagues on the question: What is the meaning of the word “engagement”? And how does an arts organization know if it is succeeding? ————- Bob Booker – Executive Director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts When two people make a statement of love, support, and promise to … [Read more...]
What is Audience Engagement? (Part 2)
It’s commonplace to talk about the need for “audience engagement” – but what does the term actually mean? Let's pick up from yesterday's discussion... Here again, I’m delighted (and grateful) to offer the insights of respected friends and colleagues on this question: What is the meaning of the word “engagement”? And how does an arts organization know if it is succeeding? ————- Doug McLennan - Founder & Editor of … [Read more...]
What is Audience Engagement? (Part 1)
It's commonplace to talk about the need for "audience engagement" - but what does the term actually mean? And how does an arts/cultural organization know if its succeeding? Perhaps it's an intentionally amorphous concept - akin to Supreme Court justice Potter Stewart's famous characterization of the nature of pornography: “I know it when I see it.” Or perhaps it's best considered an aspirational notion - sacred words etched into mission … [Read more...]