Welcome to the Management and the Arts Blog for 2015. Every two or three weeks I’ll post a few items that can be conversation starters related to topics covered in the 5th edition. I am always on the lookout for interesting news stories, research, or events that can help support enhanced class discussions. Here are four items that I hope you will find of interest as we head into 2015. Thanks and Happy New Year.
Bill Byrnes
New Law as Of January 1, 2015: Non-voting Ex Officio Board Members Prohibited
“A little-noticed change in the California Nonprofit Corporations Code has an important change for nonprofits: there can no longer be non-voting members of the board of directors.”
It is always interesting to see how arts boards organize themselves. When studying arts board governance, the mix of voting and non-voting ex-officio board members (by virtue of their office – e.g. an Executive Director) seems to be consistently inconsistent. It will also be interesting to see how Californian arts and other nonprofit boards adjust to these mandated changes.
http://www.calnonprofits.org/publications/article-archive/377-new-law-as-of-january-1-2015-nonvoting-ex-officio-board-members-prohibited
How the Arts Drove Pittsburgh’s Revitalization
“Pittsburgh is enjoying an urban renaissance, regularly making it into the top ranks of “most livable city” lists. The reasons for this revival are numerous and complicated, including the presence of its world-class universities, vibrant tech sector, sophisticated health-care systems, rejuvenated riverfronts, and much more.”
This article from The Atlantic in December can be used in discussions related to creative placemaking. By the way, if you are near Pittsburgh this coming June, you should make a point of going to the Three Rivers Arts Festival. It is quite an event.
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/12/how-the-cultural-arts-drove-pittsburghs-revitalization/383627/
Dance community stunned as funding ends
By Stephan Salisbury, Inquirer Staff Writer, POSTED: December 08, 2014
“Waves of dismay are rolling through the region’s dance community in the wake of an abrupt decision by the William Penn Foundation to cease funding Dance/UP, a branch of Washington-based Dance/USA and the sole organization serving the entire community.”
This story can be included in discussions about arts funding in general, budgeting, and fundraising. Dependance on a limited number of funding sources can have a profound impact on an arts organization, as this article points out.
http://articles.philly.com/2014-12-08/news/56807005_1_dance-world-william-penn-foundation-dance-usa
Arts Education Matters: We Know, We Measured It
By Jay P. Greene, Brian Kisida, Cari A. Bogulski, Anne Kraybill, Collin Hitt, & Daniel H. Bowen
“Though the arts receive relatively little attention from policymakers and school leaders, exposing young people to art and culture can have a big impact on their development…. But the important effects of art and cultural experiences on students can be rigorously measured. In fact, we recently conducted two studies that used random-assignment research designs to identify causal effects of exposure to the arts through museum and theater attendance….”
The coverage in Education Week in early December on the benefits of arts education offers students and faculty a chance to have a conversation about research methods that go beyond the normative statements often made about the benefits of arts in education.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/12/03/13greene.h34.html