This lyric from Queen and David Bowie (“Under Pressure”) says it all for the fight between “doing what we know” and “doing better.” Who are the casualties of battle? In the United States, Memorial Day is a federal holiday. Like most, it is spent buying things on sale, because America. The American people don’t really distinguish between Memorial Day, Independence Day, … [Read more...] about For Nonprofit Arts Organizations, “These Are the Days It Never Rains But It Pours”
Leadership
Framing Art: Why Do Nonprofit Arts Organizations Hire Managers Instead of Leaders?
Is it because young leaders are being trained to make buggy whips when nonprofit arts organizations need electric helicopter pilots? Have you been following Joby Aviation? They’re in the business of building the first mass-produced electric helicopters, made for speedy travel between airports and downtowns. The idea of a noiseless carriage moving faster (200 mph) and with … [Read more...] about Framing Art: Why Do Nonprofit Arts Organizations Hire Managers Instead of Leaders?
De-“DeSantitizing” Florida Will Depend on the Nonprofit Arts Community, Like It or Not
It won’t happen because of Disney. It’ll happen when nonprofit arts organizations change the way in which they do business. I’m not from Florida. I was born in California. Yes, on May 14, just like the sign says. Respond accordingly. Until recently (in decades), California was deemed to be that “crazy” place where weird things happened for no rational reason. People … [Read more...] about De-“DeSantitizing” Florida Will Depend on the Nonprofit Arts Community, Like It or Not
Backlash: White Male Artists Are Losing Their Careers
No, it’s not fair. But as everyone, including white male artists, have been told, life isn’t fair. Before the meat of this column: I am, according to a DNA site, 100% Ashkenazi Jewish Diaspora, more specifically Litvak. To white racists, I’m a Jew (and not white), usually pronounced with a long “e” sound right after the “J,” as in “Jē-ü.” To non-whites, I’m a white guy. … [Read more...] about Backlash: White Male Artists Are Losing Their Careers
Nonprofit Art and The Tyranny of Happiness
Do taxpayers pay for your nonprofit arts organization to wrestle with artistic satisfaction or to make their community better? In deciphering whether nonprofits, especially nonprofit arts organizations, deserve funding, acclaim, or zealous advocacy, there are a number of factors that we keep forgetting. The first thing is that nonprofits cost you a lot of money. Not … [Read more...] about Nonprofit Art and The Tyranny of Happiness