I'm going to paraphrase a conversation that was had with the head of a major foundation that does a lot of arts funding.
This foundation head said that one of the most disturbing trends they saw with a lot of arts orgs was "a softening in programming."
Translation: Arts orgs, in a bid to maintain an increasing aging and increasing homogenous audience was creating safe, "soft" programming that did very little to challenge or stimulate their base.
Let me repeat, this foundation head saw this as a huge problem, to the point where they were cutting funding to certain orgs because their programming was becoming more and more tepid.
So you can consider this a reminder that going soft has its consequences and a reminder that people do notice when that happens.
Here's one more thing to consider
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If Nov. 4, 2008 taught us anything it's that America is changing.
Think about how Obama won. He built a coalition of black, whites, latino/a, asian, etc.
This is where the country is going.
And the simple fact is that if you are an arts org of ANY size that is depending on a narrow type of audience you are in serious trouble.
If you are an arts org that has an audience that is overwhelming older and white you are in serious trouble.
If you are an arts org that focuses on work for people of color, but can't reach out to get at least some white audience you are in serious trouble.
Maybe you don't see it right now because you have a nice base of people that is bringing in the earned income and the donations.
But then again, four years ago the GOP's chief strategist was talking about a permanent republican majority.
Things change.
So consider this another warning shot.
Your organization may not get another.
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