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Scene Change

Arts are essential. Your nonprofit is not.

Change

Special Commentary: Of All the Times I’ve Wanted to be Wrong…

November 1, 2024 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

Remember that war we talked about in February and March? In two days, there's a time change. After two more, a consequential and particularly ugly US election. And yet, here we are again, talking about war. Only this time, it's not just me. On February 27 and March 5 of this year, we published two consecutive articles about the inevitable war that will start within the … [Read more...] about Special Commentary: Of All the Times I’ve Wanted to be Wrong…

Talking To or Talking At? Or Even Talking at All?

October 29, 2024 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

Nonprofit Arts Leaders: Don't tell them about your mission, show them how you are fulfilling it. Don't just present, discuss. Do you talk about what’s happening to other folks in your community? Or are you “too busy?” This is an exchange that happened during a recent “Town Hall” with Vice President Kamala Harris taking questions from “undecided” voters in Pennsylvania, … [Read more...] about Talking To or Talking At? Or Even Talking at All?

Breaking Free of Your Longtime Role Is Hard. But It’s the Key to Progress.

October 22, 2024 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

Just look at the US presidential election... and US nonprofit arts organizations. We have established roles for ourselves. We can’t help it. “In human life, social roles are ubiquitous. Historically, social and personality psychologists sought to understand the relation between social roles and psychological functioning. Contemporary social and personality … [Read more...] about Breaking Free of Your Longtime Role Is Hard. But It’s the Key to Progress.

Why Do Donors Ask for Irrelevant Data?

October 15, 2024 by Alan Harrison Leave a Comment

Could it be that you never talked to them about your nonprofit’s charitable goals and how they mesh with the donor’s? Whose fault is that? A few weeks ago, I participated in a discussion about the arts and measuring impact in the community. As every other author does, I believed that the message that the arts are not a tax-exempt activity had been spread far and wide among … [Read more...] about Why Do Donors Ask for Irrelevant Data?

Is Pay-What-You-Can a Real Community Issue for Arts Organizations to Solve?

October 8, 2024 by Alan Harrison 4 Comments

The well-intentioned, ghettoized program asks us: are Abe and Sophie still the ones coming, only now they’re paying less? An elderly couple in Florida are going out to dinner. Abe’s at the door, but Sophie’s still upstairs in the bedroom. Abe: Hurry up, Darling! Sophie: I’m coming, Sweetheart! I just have to put on my 18-inch, double-strand pearls! Abe: Hurry up, … [Read more...] about Is Pay-What-You-Can a Real Community Issue for Arts Organizations to Solve?

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About Scene Change

In early 2024, we laid out the problem and gave you a path. The result: SCENE CHANGE: WHY TODAY'S NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE TO STOP PRODUCING ART AND START PRODUCING IMPACT. In late 2024, we gave you discussion prompts and rules to help you figure out the answers on your own. The result: … [MORE] about About Scene Change

About Alan Harrison

Alan Harrison is a writer, father, performer, consultant, recovering artist, and the author of the industry best-seller "Scene Change: Why Today's Nonprofit Arts Organizations Have to Stop Producing Art and Start Producing Impact" and “Scene Change 2: The Five REAL Responsibilities of Nonprofit Arts … [MORE] about About Alan Harrison

Recent Posts

  • SUMMER RERUN: Art Doesn’t Need to Be Served. People Do.
  • SUMMER RERUN: “The Planet Will Be Fine. It’s the People Who Will Be F**ked.” — George Carlin
  • SUMMER RERUN: The Con Is On – Raising Emergency Money at the Expense of Everyone Else Is Not a Heroic Act
  • SUMMER RERUN: What Would a Post-NEA (Arts) America Look Like?
  • Just a Reminder — June 30 Is Only Meaningful to You

Recent Comments

  1. Benjamin Lemon on SUMMER RERUN: What Would a Post-NEA (Arts) America Look Like?
  2. Tom Tresser on No. Just No.
  3. Alan Harrison on Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 6 — Don’t Talk About It; Do It.
  4. Joyce Linehan on Nonprofit Arts Success in a Changing Environment, Tip 6 — Don’t Talk About It; Do It.
  5. Trevor O’Donnell on “Duck and Cover” — Is That Your Motto for the Next 46 Months?

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