The central challenge facing arts managers is to fill the ever-widening gap between rapidly increasing expenses and earned income, primarily from ticket sales. This gap continues to grow each year since the number of seats we have to sell does not increase but expenses do.

Unfortunately, the...

This is the time of year when we look within ourselves and make commitments for improving ourselves and our lives in the coming year.

I, like millions of others, have made New Year's resolutions. Here they are:


1. I will finish my...

Like everyone else, I have a list of things I want for Christmas. Here is mine:

1. All arts organizations to recommit to their missions: Virtually every arts organization has a mission and I dare say that a majority of board and staff at most arts organizations...

One of the exciting moments in the life of a young, small or mid-sized arts organization is when it receives its first, large foundation grant. This grant, a recognition of the good work already being performed, typically allows the organization to expand its programming. New staff may be hired, new...

Over the past 25 years, I have bristled when anyone says or writes that arts administrators have taken over the arts and that artistic initiatives are taking a back seat to financial concerns. I feel slighted. My work, and the work of my fellow arts managers, after all, is aimed...

One of the stops on my Arts in Crisis tour that I looked forward to most was the visit to Kansas City, Missouri. Twenty four years ago I started my arts management career in Kansas City, running the Kansas City Ballet. Going back to the Lyric Theatre, where the Ballet...

The current economic downturn has indeed created a crisis for virtually every sector of the economy, especially those of us in the not-for-profit arena. Yet during this Thanksgiving week, I believe we in the arts have a great deal to be thankful for even in this troubled time.

First, we...

I was fortunate to be invited to attend a symposium offered by the Young Arab Theatre Fund in Alexandria, Egypt.

This group facilitates discussions amongst Arab artists and arts managers. This biannual symposium presents one of the few networking opportunities for Arab arts leaders.

I was asked to present a...

One of the Fellows participating in the Kennedy Center Arts Management Institute raised a serious question with me: can the traditional model of a symphony orchestra work in the United States? He observed that salaries are very high for musicians, conductors and guest artists, and ticket demand is not strong...

As I travel around the country talking about the problems facing arts organizations during this recession, there is one topic that gets consistent and passionate attention: the role of the board.

Most board members I meet are scared and frustrated and most staff members believe their board...

I have been spending a great deal of time thinking about the issue of diversity in the arts, specifically, the drive to diversify the programming and constituents of all arts organizations.

The more I consider this thorny issue, the less I am convinced that the arts world has worked hard...

One of the questions I am always asked when I teach abroad is why there are not more performances by American arts organizations available on television. In other developed nations, the great arts organizations are seen regularly on television.

There are two answers to this question. The first is...

At first blush, my Arts in Crisis tour stop in Grand Rapids seemed ill-timed.

After all, I am touring all 50 states to discuss approaches for dealing with the current economic crisis; to discuss the mistakes arts organizations make when they reduce programming or play it safe in this environment.

I was fortunate to be invited to the opening of the Metropolitan Opera two weeks ago. The new production of Tosca made news when the production team was greeted by a chorus of boos when they bowed at the end of the performance.

I was surprised not...

Last week I spent three days in New York City in meetings with the leaders of several arts organizations.

Three of these organizations -- The New York City Opera, Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance -- are emerging from periods...

For the last six years I have been obsessed with the concept of cultural diplomacy.
 
While other countries have been active exporters of their arts -- China and Great Britain come to mind -- the United States government has been reticent to invest in this form of diplomacy.

The accepted bounds of decorum and civility have seemed to disintegrate around us.

Living in Washington, D.C., I always admired the way American legislators could disagree violently on political issues during the day and yet have a friendly dinner together at night.

This mature form of disagreement was certainly not...

This week we will welcome ten new arts management fellows to the Kennedy Center. These talented young people will spend an academic year with us studying the many elements of arts management including planning, marketing, programming, and fundraising. They will work on major projects in our numerous departments and participate...

People across the nation have been asking me why I have embarked on my 50-state Arts in Crisis speaking tour. I always answer, truthfully, that I am concerned that so many arts organizations are making poor decisions as they attempt to cope with the current economic crisis. They are cutting...

Over the last several weeks I have been visiting cities across the nation discussing ways to address the current economic crisis. Amidst all of the pain, fear and serious discussion, one area of conversation always gets a laugh: the way to reduce tension between artistic directors and executive leadership.
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