Entering Cultural Communities: Diversity and Change in the Nonprofit Arts (Public Life of the Arts)

Arts organizations once sought patrons primarily from among the wealthy and well educated, but for many decades now they have revised their goals as they seek to broaden their audiences. Today, museums, orchestras, dance companies, theaters, and community cultural centers try to involve a variety of people in the arts. They strive to attract a more racially and ethnically diverse group of people, those from a broader range of economic backgrounds, new immigrants, families, and youth. The chapters in this book draw on interviews with leaders, staff, volunteers, and audience members from eighty-five nonprofit cultural organizations to explore how they are trying to increase participation and the extent to which they have been successful. The insiders' accounts point to the opportunities and challenges involved in such efforts, from the reinvention of programs and creation of new activities, to the addition of new departments and staff dynamics, to partnerships with new groups. The authors differentiate between "relational" and "transactional" practices, the former term describing efforts to build connections with local communities and the latter describing efforts to create new consumer markets for cultural products. In both cases, arts leaders report that, although positive results are difficult to measure conclusively, long-term efforts bring better outcomes than short-term activities. The organizations discussed include large, medium, and small nonprofits located in urban, suburban, and rural areasùfrom large institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Walker Art Center, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the San Francisco Symphony to many cultural organizations that are smaller, but often known nationally for their innovative work, such as AS220, The Loft Literary Center, Armory Center for the Arts, Appalshop, and the Western Folklife Center. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Authors: Diane Grams is an assistant professor of sociology at Tulane University in New Orleans. Betty Farrell, associate director of the M.A. Program in Social Sciences and senior lecturer at The University of Chicago, works on the sociology of culture. The Chapters In This Book Draw On Interviews With Leaders, Staff, Volunteers, And Audience Members From Eighty-five Nonprofit Cultural Organizations To Explore How They Are Trying To Increase Participation And The Extent To Which They Have Been Successful. The Insiders' Accounts Point To The Opportunities And Challenges Involved In Such Efforts, From The Reinvention Of Programs And Creation Of New Activities, To The Addition Of New Departments And Staff Dynamics, To Partnerships With New Groups. The Authors Differentiate Between 'relational' And 'transactional' Practices, The Former Term Describing Efforts To Build Connections With Local Communities And The Latter Describing Efforts To Create New Consumer Markets For Cultural Products. In Both Cases, Arts Leaders Report That, Although Positive Results Are Difficult To Measure Conclusively, Long-term Efforts Bring Better Outcomes Than Short-term Activities. The Organizations Discussed Include Large, Medium, And Small Nonprofits Located In Urban, Suburban, And Rural Areas--from Large Institutions Such As The Smithsonian, The Walker Art Center, The Museum Of Fine Arts Houston, And The San Francisco Symphony To Many Cultural Organizations That Are Smaller, But Often Known Nationally For Their Innovative Work, Such As As220, The Loft Literary Center, Armory Center For The Arts, Appalshop, And The Western Folklife Center.--publisher's Description. Building Arts Participation Through Transactions, Relationships, Or Both / Diane Grams -- Changing Culture And Practices Inside Organizations / Betty Farrell -- Leaders Bridging The Culture Gap / D. Carroll Joynes And Diane Grams -- Partnering With Purpose / David Karraker And Diane Grams -- Building Youth Participation / Betty Farrell -- Diversifying The Arts: Bringing In Race And Ethnic Perspectives / Morris Fred And Betty Farrell -- High-tech Transactions And Cyber-communities / Wendy Leigh Norris And Niane Grams -- Creative Reinvention: From One Book To Animals On Parade--how Good Ideas Spread Like Wildfire / Diane Grams -- Achieving Success / Diane Grams. Edited By Diane Grams And Betty Farrell. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 265-277) And Index. Contents 8 Figures and Tables 10 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction 18 Chapter 1: Building Arts Participation through Transactions, Relationships, or Both 30 Chapter 2: Changing Culture and Practices Inside Organizations 55 Chapter 3: Leaders Bridging the Culture Gap 81 Chapter 4: Partnering with Purpose 108 Chapter 5: Building Youth Participation 131 Chapter 6: Diversifying the Arts: Bringing in Race and Ethnic Perspectives 160 Chapter 7: High-Tech Transactions and Cyber-Communities 188 Chapter 8: Creative Reinvention: From "One Book" to "Animals on Parade," How Good Ideas Spread Like Wildfire 211 Chapter 9: Achieving Success 238 Postscript 265 Appendix 272 Bibliography 282 List of Interviews Cited 288 Notes on Contributors 296 Index 298 Building arts participation through transactions, relationships or both / Diane Grams Changing culture and practices inside organizations / Betty Farrell Leaders bridging the culture gap / Carroll Joynes and Diane Grams Partnering with purpose / David Karraker and Diane Grams Building youth participation / Betty Farrell Diversifying the arts: bringing in race and ethnic perspectives / Morris Fred and Betty Farrell High tech transactions and cyber-communities / Wendy Leigh Norris and Niane Grams Creative reinvention: from one book to animals on parade how good ideas spread like wildfire / Diane Grams Achieving success. Arts organizations once sought patrons primarily from among the wealthy, but now they have revised their goals as they seek to broaden their audiences. This book draws on interviews with members of nonprofit cultural organizations to explore how they are trying to increase participation and the extent to which they have been successful.