Sorry for the hiatus...life;)
Have you ever suddenly come upon the realization, either on your own or in coordination with others, that you (and they) are being manipulated or were given the run around?
Doesn't really sound like something that would happen in non-profit work right? We are all so above that and while we might get creative with how we do things and and juggle money to make the production or program work, back-dealing and underhanded corner cutting is a stereotypical corporate concept ne construct. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist in the nonprofit sector or the cultural industries.
I am not bringing this up because it is necessarily anything I have encountered. But in conversation with other 'arts producers' recently, the differences between the for-profit and non-profit sectors became the focus of the discussion, respective of a recent article on the American art sector's contribution to the national GDP (https://shar.es/14OEQO via @sharethis).
Given the economic contribution that the arts make to the national economy, I simply wonder why the arts here are not more highly regarded....at least from a business standpoint. Let's face it, we aren't ever going to champion culture and the arts the way other countries do but we certainly do care about money as an indicator of success so its surprising that we aren't jumping at the chance to produce more art.
That makes me wonder that if more people in the corporate sector really paid attention to the economic impact the arts provides this country, would they try to overtake the arts? (I am not talking about Hollywood, Broadway or big budget music concerts, et al) And then would we see more back-dealings and Ponzi scams or even just individual manipulation and hidden corner cutting come to the surface over time?
Who knows? I would certainly hope the arts, oddly in spite of the economic contribution it provides the country, can retain some purity and nobility of purpose i.e. some how retain some level of poverty. I imagine the only way that can happen is if artists, administrators, educators, patrons, audience and enthusiasts continue asking....
What's next???
Selena