Assuming that your board has no clear sense of why they’re representing their nonprofit arts organization’s work, there’s a handbook for that. The first essay of the school year is usually some throwaway set of paragraphs entitled, “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.” This is kinda that. I’ve been exceptionally busy over the last month doing podcasts, interviews, and signings … [Read more...] about Scene Change 2 Now Available for Preorder
Board of Trustees
Last of the Summer Whine
The seven attributes of a successful nonprofit arts organization. You gotta do all seven to win. Before I take off for a month, I thought I’d let you in on the secret to success for nonprofit arts organizations. Note how “raising money” is not among the things on the list. That’s a business practice, not an attribute of success. Of course you’ll have to raise money! That … [Read more...] about Last of the Summer Whine
The Seattle Arts Scene Today: Full of Hopes and Full of Fears
Good people making strained decisions because they keep thinking it’s about HOW they produce art, not WHY Seattle Rep is laying off 12% of its workforce. ACT (A Contemporary Theatre) and Seattle Shakespeare are working out a merger. Bellevue Art Museum (Bellevue is a wealthy, somewhat conservative, mostly White and Asian suburb of Seattle – sometimes referred to as … [Read more...] about The Seattle Arts Scene Today: Full of Hopes and Full of Fears
Sometimes There’s a Pretty Good Reason to Swim Upstream
For nonprofit arts organizations, the choice to use the art as a final product is the easiest way to swim downstream. Oh, before I forget. If June 30 is a special date for your company and you need/want/are being forced to raise a bunch of money before then with a big campaign, here’s an email to print out and show your various bosses: Don’t force people to give … [Read more...] about Sometimes There’s a Pretty Good Reason to Swim Upstream
Mission Grammar for Nonprofit Arts Organizations: Flick the Prepositions and Cut the Nonsense
Your community requires “Why,” not “How” – and the slogans have got to go Let’s make this short and impactful. Well, impactful anyway. Get the prepositions, whether they’re attached to a phrase or not, out of your mission statement. And the slogans, too. Not only are they unnecessary, but more than that, these words set up your nonprofit arts organization for … [Read more...] about Mission Grammar for Nonprofit Arts Organizations: Flick the Prepositions and Cut the Nonsense