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Steve's Blog

Fresh Angle: A Ford Forum on the Arts
Posted on June 15, 2011 by Steve

On May 4, 2011, the Ford Foundation hosted Fresh Angle on the Arts: Reimagining Culture in a Time of Transformation, a full day of discussion and performances to explore the next frontlines of innovation and free expression in a revolutionary moment.

Video of complete sessions from this event are now available on the Ford Foundation website. This was the first of three foundation forums focusing on a range of social justice issues to mark Ford's 75th anniversary.

Check out the session videos here.

Ann McQueen Update
Posted on June 15, 2011 by Steve

Ann McQueen recently announced the formation of McQueen Philanthropic, an advisory service for foundations, individuals and nonprofits. McQueen, formerly the senior program officer for arts/culture at the Boston Foundation, served on the GIA board from 2005 to 2010. She is currently a member of the board of Associated Grant Makers, a forum for New England foundations and their nonprofit partners. See McQueenPhilanthropic.com for more information.

Lucy Bernholz Looks at Evaluating Innovation in the Social Sector
Posted on June 15, 2011 by Steve

In the just-published Evaluating Innovation, the fifth in a series of papers on philanthropic field building, Lucy Bernholz explores the meaning of innovation and presents three case studies on evaluation.

The Charitable Challenge
Posted on June 15, 2011 by Steve

Philanthropic donors need to understand that “overhead” should not be considered a dirty word when it comes to nonprofit organizations. From Rick Wartzman at Bloomberg Businessweek:

I once heard that, 22 years ago, when Peter Drucker wrote the Harvard Business Review article, “What Business Can Learn from Nonprofits,” some thought that the magazine had committed a colossal typo and gotten it backward. Surely it meant to say: “What Nonprofits Can Learn from Business.”
House of Representatives Takes Up HR 1891, Would Eliminate Arts Ed Funding
Posted on June 14, 2011 by Steve

On May 25, 2011 the House Education & Workforce Committee, by a vote of 23-16, approved HR 1891, legislation that terminates 42 federal education programs, including the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education. This bill is more serious than the annual funding measures that threaten to de-fund arts education, as HR 1891 permanently strips policy language out of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) that allows the Arts in Education program to be funded each year.

NASAA Updates Major State Arts Agency Budget and Restructuring Proposals
Posted on June 14, 2011 by Steve

The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies document covering activities in various state governments has new updates today from South Carolina, where legislation is in the works to reduce the funding for the South Carolina Arts Commission. Governor Haley has recommended eliminating the agency. Also, the latest from Kansas and other states.

Technology Resources for Arts Managers
Posted on June 14, 2011 by Steve

A list of resources to help arts managers with technology planning, software comparison, trends analysis, best practices, and more. From David Dombrosky at The Center for Arts Management and Technology.

Hewlett Posts Position Opening for Program Officer, Performing Arts
Posted on June 14, 2011 by Steve

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, is seeking a Program Officer for the Performing Arts Program:

The Ins and Outs of Strategic Collaboration
Posted on June 13, 2011 by Steve

The Chronicle of Philanthropy is hosting a live discussion tomorrow (Tuesday, June 14) at noon Eastern time (9am Pacific). The Ins and Outs of Strategic Collaboration is the first of a three-part series with the Nonprofit Finance Fund.

The Dynamic Box Office
Posted on June 13, 2011 by Steve

The Center for Arts Management and Technology at Carnegie Mellon today revisits the idea of dynamic pricing for Arts presenters:

Unlike regular discounting or promotional pricing, the dynamic ticket model would enable organizations to price each production—and even each performance–strategically and, perhaps, more realistically. Instead of offering incentive discounts, both the organization and the audience would be able to gauge expectations for a show based on the ticket prices.