In This Issue

A Time of Change! A Time for Change?
Creative Compensation
What Good Are the Arts?
Increasing Attendance through Small Groups
A Look at Leadership: Board Involvement
When "No" Is the Right Answer
1stACT: San Jose

Insights

A Time of Change!
A Time for Change?
by Steven A. Wolff
In the first of a two-part series on changes in our industry, we examine four of eight themes, or "areas of change," that we believe affect every arts and culture organization and the way they do business. more...

Creative Compensation
by Lynette Turner
How can arts organizations increase “remuneration” to their staff and leadership without actually increasing pay? In June 2006, we facilitated a discussion at the Theatre Communications Group conference that revealed many alternative compensation strategies to support staff, reduce stress and build greater organizational stability. more...

A Discussion of John Carey's What Good Are the Arts?
by Robert Bailey
Arts advocates for years have cited the material benefits of the arts as justification for public and private charitable support. Although one might expect John Carey to present a continuation of these traditional arguments in his 2005 book, What Good are the Arts?, instead the reader finds a thought provoking and ultimately, entertaining book that raises some big questions about arts participation and the nature of experience. more...

Latest Research

Increasing Attendance Through Small Groups
by Christopher Caltagirone
Group sales are an important part of most performing arts organizations earned revenue stream. While group sales can benefit attendees and the organization, many organizations overlook a significant segment of the population for whom small group interactions of four to eight people are a much more common occurrence. more...

A Look at Leadership:
Board Involvement
by Amy Freidman
A vital component of any non-profit operation is Board support and input.  Our Boards guide us through challenges and help position us for success.  But where do we draw the line when it comes to decision making?  Where and when does staff expertise take over?  These questions resonate through all types of non-profits, especially arts organizations.  Arts organizations rely on Boards to represent their best interest and protect their public image; but what is the general manner of Board/staff relationships and when is it appropriate for professional staff to step in and volunteer staff to step aside? more...

About AMS

AMS Planning & Research Corp. is the nation's most experienced arts management consulting firm. For 18 years, our consultants have provided counsel, planning and research services to hundreds of arts and cultural organizations across the country and throughout the world. Founded in the belief that arts, culture and entertainment enhance people's daily lives and the communities in which they live, we promote successful cultural ventures by working in partnership with arts and community leaders to better understand their industry, customers and environment, and with that knowledge develop innovative and sustainable business practices.

Our services include:

• Cultural Facility Feasibility
• Business Planning & Strategy
• Audience & Market Research
• Community Cultural Planning

Client Experiences

When "No" Is the Right Answer
by Arthur Greenberg
We are often asked by prospective clients if AMS ever recommends against building an arts venue. Do we ever say “no”? Our recent experience in Hamilton, Ohio is a clear example of how a recommendation and decision to not pursue the construction of a new facility led to what has now been recognized as a successful community arts program, capitalizing on the City’s unique assets, with ample room for growth in the future. more...

Views from the Field

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1stACT: San Jose’s Approach to Cultural Community Development
by Rebecca Ratzkin
In every project, we aim to engage a broad constituency of stakeholders and community members in all of our projects, soliciting commentary, ideas, criticism and reactions. We advocate partnership and collaboration, but there are times we and our clients struggle to become part of the wider conversation that many cities and communities undertake trying to answer the following question: how do we create a better quality of life for our citizens? more...