In a time of ongoing upheaval and change, we discuss the trends we are seeing and what arts organizations should be thinking about.
I got my first Managing Director position at a theater company in the fall of 2007. In the 18 years since that day, I have managed companies through one (for now) major economic recession, changes in domestic policy, a literal global pandemic, and, now, complete upheaval in federal funding and the cultural changes initiated by that chaos. I say this not to lament my poor luck, but to emphasize something that my peers and I have learned throughout our careers: the only constant is change.
TRENDS WE SEE
With that in mind, every 6 months or so, we at Benvenuti Arts want to provide you with an overview of changes, shifts, and trends that we are seeing industry-wide. In October, we discussed a push towards new models from the funding community and an increasing need for organizations to focus on their own internal adaptability. This pattern was even noticeable to those outside of the industry. This article from Esquire – right?! I was surprised too! – discussed the historical challenges inherent to the way we fund arts and culture in this country, and the general need for shifts to new models:
“…arts executives have been researching innovative new models for funding—and new ways of thinking about funding—to empower individual artists and supporters while also diluting the role of philanthropy. Today, there is an increased focus on collective and regenerative funding models—both nonprofit and for-profit—to prime arts institutions for sustainable futures and to look at the arts as an integral part of a larger social ecosystem.”
Personally, I believe we are seeing the end of a long arc begun in the 60s and 70s that pushed arts organizations to institutionalize. Now that many of our communities have these institutions, the need has shifted instead towards providing true access to cultural experience, education, and advocacy for everyone. Large institutions with weighty overhead are not the only vessels through which we can provide this service. In fact, there can often be distrust of these institutions in many communities, with high prices and confusing norms acting as barriers to entry. Small, nimble organizations can often better reflect and serve many people who need it most. So how do we build organizations that can adapt and respond to the needs of their audiences in a constantly changing world, while still having the resources needed to be sustainable?
While this trending push towards innovation has continued, we are also seeing a number of other shifts that have been driven by what is happening at the federal level, but also some things that were already in motion before the dramatics of the past few months.
Some funders were already leaning away from language focused on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion before the current administration began their assault. For many, this may have been a shift in language only and not in values or programs. But what was once a handful of organizations has now multiplied since this administration began its attacks on DEI and federal granting initiatives.
Across all of our clients, we have heard of four different foundations or non-federal government funders who reached out with requests for the client to adjust their language in specific ways. For some of these, they were asked to remove words that align with the lists that have been circulated from the Trump Administration. Others were asked to simply shift the language a bit in other ways. In all of these situations, no one was asked to change their programming or their values. It seems as though funders are trying to protect the organizations they work with and allow themselves to continue giving funds, no matter what happens next.
Which brings up an important question: what is going to happen next?
STEPS TO TAKE
No one can know for sure, but I hope that our continued advocacy to our elected officials, collective action in public, and more quiet stances against inequity will be successful. Putting that into more practical terms, we believe you should:
- Advocate! Advocate! Advocate! Whether it’s making calls to your representatives, having frank discussions with foundations, or organizing your community, we are all going to need to be doing our part to fight back against what is happening. There is more than one way to do this. While some may be able to take a public stand, others may need to fight in more quiet and subversive ways. We must work together to make change.
- Not pre-comply! If a foundation has not requested that you change your language, do not do so ahead of time. Even if this trickles down and begins affecting small nonprofits and their funders, changing your language is not going to do much for you if your focus is truly around social justice. We hope you’ll take a stand.
- Continue to discuss with your board the risks you are willing to take in this climate. Some risks may be in the form of public backlash, while others may mean decreased funding for your programs. What is your organization able to withstand, and what do your constituents need from you?
One interesting stance in response to federal changes that we’ve seen recently is the MacArthur Foundation’s “Set it at Six” campaign. The Foundation is committing to, and encouraging other funders to, set their minimum spends at 6% instead of the federal minimum of 5%. In their own words:
“The need for a surge in funding is plain. Philanthropy needs to step up. We at MacArthur believe it is time to tap our reserves to get more money flowing.”
While many (myself included) believe that many funders could and should do more, this is an interesting development that we’re keeping our eyes on.
Our days seem dominated by frustrating or downright scary news, but there is also reason for optimism both from fundraising and from the exciting innovations that are happening in our community. One that I would personally like to share is from our client, SOZO Impact, who is launching their call for applications for the second round of their Artist Fellowship program. They provide mid-career artists with entrepreneurial training and support to help them become more fiscally independent in their creative work. As our industry shifts away from institutionalization for all, the ability for an artist to be self-sustaining is going to become more and more important.
This is something that Benvenuti Arts has always been passionate about, too. If you want to learn more about our training for artists and small organizations, you can check us out online or visit us on Instagram.
Good luck and reach out if you have any questions!
