Entrepreneurial Arts and Cultural Leadership
Entrepreneurial Arts and Cultural Leadership (Book)
Traits of Success in Nonprofit Theatre
Entrepreneurial Arts and Cultural Leadership offers emerging and established arts and nonprofit leaders a deep understanding of establishing an entrepreneurial mindset, enabling them to adapt quickly to opportunities while meeting the demands of managing the complex operations of an arts and cultural enterprise. Both a classroom text and case study detailing practices. 14b&w illus.
Edition
Traits is timely and needed. It provides a pathway to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset in nonprofit arts management students and in those in the nonprofit field. Traits is not another academic, hypothetical, imagining text. Rather, Traits is a tactical, centred on entrepreneurial leadership, offering a concrete case example, Imagination Stage.
2020 brought significant changes to the world’s business and social fabric. The nonprofit arts has been greatly impacted with the highest unemployment rate during the peak of the pandemic response to the slow and inconsistent return of patrons. Internally, organizations had to address often long-over-due adaptations to the inclusive and accessible practices demanded by their communities, including equitable pay scales, diversity, inclusion and access on stage, staffs, and boards.
Consequently, many nonprofit arts organizations are now less viable; many have gone out of business; and most are struggling to adopt new post-pandemic practices that promote a new culture in their organization. The authors contend that those organizations that have survived are led by social entrepreneurs who were always ahead of the curve and able to adapt.
The authors’ underlying assumption is that while entrepreneurship may be innate in some, in most it is not - even in those who lead organizations. But it can also be taught – just like any form of leadership. And this is what Traits does.
Bonnie Fogel is the founder and longtime leader of Imagination Stage, one of the top Theatres for Young Audiences in the U.S., taking an entrepreneurial approach to build and guide the nonprofit over 43 years. As the executive head, Fogel advanced the mission through strategic leadership overseeing all aspects of the organization, deploying an entrepreneurial style she developed from her business background. Fogel succeeded through her vision, business acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, communication skills, and "people first" perspective that empowered others.
Brett Ashley Crawford is an Associate Teaching Professor and Faculty Chair of the Arts & Entertainment Management programs at Carnegie Mellon University, USA with a background in theatre management and extensive experience in the field. She has earned multiple degrees including a PhD in Theatre History and Criticism, and her research focuses on audiences, engagement, and how technology disrupts the arts and cultural fields. Crawford also had a career in theatre and worked her way up from stage managing to managing director roles in NY, MD, and GA.
List of Figures
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Why Is Entrepreneurship Critical in Arts Leadership?
Trait 1. The Vision Thing: The Entrepreneurial Leadership Imperative
Trait 2. It’s All about the People: Staff and Board
Trait 3. Igniting and Engaging: Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Board
Trait 4. Making the Difference: Partnership and Community
Trait 5. The Power of Your Voice and Advocacy
Trait 6. The Entrepreneurial Balance: Risk vs. Opportunity
Appendices
A. The Origin Story
B. Imagination Stage Chronology
C. Who’s Who
D. Board Responsibilities
E. Board Management and Governance Toolkit
F. Board Member Engagement Grid
G. Annual Strategic Goal Dashboard Sample
H. Sample Board Meeting Agenda
I. Sample Weekly Board Report (aka Bonnie’s Board Brief’s)
J. Arts Accessibility Logic Model
Endnotes
Bibliography and Additional Resources
About the Authors
