Last time (Deadly Sin: I) I wrote about arrogance with respect to the work we present, the art of European Aristocratic Culture. This time I'd like to focus on arrogance in our beliefs (conscious or unconscious) about the people we need to reach to become/remain viable. The following is an inelegant statement of such a belief: Appreciation of Art of the European Aristocratic Cultural Tradition requires education, intelligence, and … [Read more...]
Deadly Sin: I
I have written about arrogance before, but in my last post (Cutting Back) I promised to keep my hand in when it seemed important. The topic of arrogance in our industry bears further consideration. As I said in Beware Arrogance, Arrogance, even unconscious arrogance, is a self-inflicted wound that can stop community engagement–the development of relationships with new communities–efforts in their tracks. So, if it is essential to substantially … [Read more...]
Assessing Engagement
I have spent most of the last twelve years advocating for a robust understanding of the nature and value of effective community engagement for arts organizations. While much (much) work remains to be done, there does seem to be greater acceptance of the need for substantive relationship building on the part of arts organizations. AssessmentAssessment is another matter. There remains a lack of common understanding of community engagement. That … [Read more...]
Do We Want Them?
This is by far the longest period that Engaging Matters has been "dark" since its beginnings over ten years ago. And as time has passed the negative inertia has gotten overwhelming. As a result, in attempting to resume my writing I've been thinking I should find a way to ease back in. Fortunately, Seema Rau at Museum 2.0 recently wrote a post (Do We Really Want People to Visit?) that makes it possible for me to venture back largely by … [Read more...]
Getting It Right
As part of Engaging Matters' 10th Anniversary, we are highlighting important and/or popular posts from the past. In reviewing such posts it became clear that many were grouped thematically. As a result, this Anniversary series will, for the most part, present the theme with links to relevant posts rather than simply re-posting individual items. Early this year, looking/hoping for a light at the end of the COVID tunnel, I wrote a series of … [Read more...]
Doing Art
As part of Engaging Matters' 10th Anniversary, we are highlighting important and/or popular posts from the past. In reviewing such posts it became clear that many were grouped thematically. As a result, this Anniversary series will, for the most part, present the theme with links to relevant posts rather than simply re-posting individual items. Over the last few years I have developed an increasing awareness of the critical importance of … [Read more...]
Cruise Ships Turning?
From 2015 to 2019 the Wallace Foundation funded a $52 million program involving 25 large budget arts organizations called Building Audiences for Sustainability. It was designed to develop "practical insights into how arts organizations can successfully expand their audiences." Recently Francie Ostrower of the University of Texas completed an evaluation of the program. A brief on that study "Why Is It Important That We Continue? Some Nonprofit … [Read more...]
Slow & Simple
As part of Engaging Matters' 10th Anniversary, we are highlighting important and/or popular posts from the past. In reviewing such posts it became clear that many were grouped thematically. As a result, this Anniversary series will, for the most part, present the theme with links to relevant posts rather than simply re-posting individual items. One of the most important elements of effective community engagement is understanding that any … [Read more...]
Not Charity
One of the more pernicious ideas used to denigrate community engagement is the claim that it's "just charity work." This implies that any community not already participating in the arts has no resources to bring to the table. That's preposterous. Every community has cultural resources and many, if not most, have financial resources that can be applied toward things it feels are truly important. Significant self-funded philanthropic work is being … [Read more...]
Ready . . . or Not
In the Community Engagement Network’s May and June Conversations on Benchmarking Equity (See What Was Said) a good deal of time was spent on the question of when an arts organization is ready to pursue DEI initiatives. The overwhelming opinion was that just because an organization would like to be seen as equitable does not mean it was ready to begin working toward equity. Here are some indicators that an organization is not ready: When an … [Read more...]