Do arts organizations really love the arts?
Okay, I’ll admit right off the bat, that question is purely subjective. There is absolutely no way one individual would be able to provide a reasonable answer, speaking on behalf of all arts organizations around the world. Furthermore, there are just too many different types of arts organizations out there, all run by completely different types of individuals, all supporting completely different types of arts, in very different places around the world that all have very different ways of supporting both the arts and arts organizations. Now, with that said, here’s my take on answering that question.
Yes. Arts organizations are all about the arts, otherwise, why would they even exist?
Let’s start with the positive argument. Starting, building and maintaining an arts organization takes a lot of work. And all too often, there really isn’t any financial reward that comes from building one or working in one. Most people that are attracted to a career in the arts administration side are artists themselves or individuals who are deeply passionate about the arts. The work isn’t always easy, but for them, the reward comes from knowing they are supporting something they love.
In addition to this, there is something to be said about the arts community at large. So many artists, arts administration professionals, patrons of the arts and appreciators that I’ve met throughout the years are really awesome people. There is a common language that we all share, regardless of whether we’re gazing at a canvas on a wall, a dance, a play, a film, or some other type of art. We all appreciate art for art’s sake and appreciate the intangible value that it brings to a community. To work within this community or run an organization that encourages members of this community to gather in one place means more time and more opportunities to get to know and build stronger relationships with these people.
No. At the end of the day, arts organizations act just like every other type of business.
With those things in mind, how could there be a counter argument? Well, it’s rather simple, actually. At the end of the day, arts organizations have to operate just like all other types of business. Keeping the doors open day after day takes significant funding. Fixed costs such as rent, heating/cooling, general building maintenance, city licenses/permits, insurance, as well as variable costs such as wages, rights for art presented in the space, marketing, artists’ fees and many other come into play. Costs add up rather quickly, which is why most arts organizations rely on public/private funding, corporate support, grants and community contributions. These costs have a way of rather quickly turning the focus from an organization away from the art and onto the efforts of running a business.
The problem is only exacerbated during a recession. Public funding is cut, corporations are less giving, more organizations are competing for a constantly shrinking pool of grants and individuals are less like to open their wallets. Under these conditions, organizations start to make decisions that increase chances of survival, but don’t always align with their mission. Some organizations start to make selfish decisions to preserve salaries, reputations and so on, often at the expense of the art. Investors throw funding behind sure-things, rather than taking risks on something new. These behaviors often continue to grow and worsen over time.
So where’s the happy medium?
Maybe that’s the most troubling part of all, there really isn’t a happy medium. If you speak to a lot of artists, they’ll tell you that business and art don’t mix. Unless you’re an artist using business as your art (Warhol, Banksy, Matter, etc), the business side of things just gets in the way. Creativity goes out the window when energy is forced to be spent on focusing on the bottom line.
So it begs the question, how do we resolve this issue? How do we create organizations that bring out all of the benefits of bringing artists and communities of arts lovers together, without compromising the art itself? Are there organizations that are doing it right? And if so, has anyone really peeked behind the curtain to figure out if this really is the case? Or what about organizations in Europe that fall under a different model, due to government support?
All of these are questions worth answering. The arts are so important to any community. Without these organizations, many artists don’t have an outlet for sharing their work. And furthermore, members of a community don’t have a place to experience art. So while the model may be flawed, the need is clearly there. It’s time to get arts organizations back on track and back in love with the arts.
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