The Executive Committee: Its Scope and Purpose
Not all boards have executive committees, but most organizations find
them to be a central element of effective governance. Ideally, the scope
of an executive committee’s authority is clearly outlined in an
organization’s bylaws. If it is not, at the very least it should be
clearly defined in a statement of the board’s operating policies. Yet,
quite often, organizations discover that they have no written policy
regarding the executive committee’s scope of authority to make
decisions. If your organization is just forming an executive committee,
or has discovered that an existing committee’s authority is not
adequately documented, the full board should discuss its role and come
to consensus on its charge.
Connecting With a Mentor Brings Small Details to Light
As I obtain more experience and knowledge in the field of dance, I hope
that someday I will be able to be a mentor to a young artist like
myself. I feel organizations like Dance/USA and programs like the
Institute for Leadership Training are vital for the future of dance.
Rural Retreat: The Future Is Now
Ten years ago Assis Carreiro, artistic director and chief executive of
the UK’s DanceEast, brought together the artistic
directors of international dance companies in England. Would artistic directors from different countries with disparate working
and funding structures have anything in common? Find out by reading about this year’s Rural Retreat, which brings together artistic directors for a weekend of intensive talks.
Five Tips for Working Smart and Staying Healthy in 2013
As arts and culture leaders, we are focused on our artistic product, the
people who create that product, our community, our board, and our
donors. These are all mission critical and never to be underestimated or
taken for granted. However, we do our collective missions a disservice
when we don’t focus on our individual mental and physical health and
that of our board and staff members. Read on for five tips for working
smarter and living healthier.
Lessons From Sandy: Disaster Preparedness for Dance Companies
Super storm Sandy struck an unprecedented blow to the
dance community, causing devastating losses of artistic materials to
flood-waters, as well as interruptions of work. The Dance Heritage
Coalition (DHC), the sole national organization with a mission to
document, preserve, and increase access to America’s dance legacy,
received several urgent appeals from artists and companies seeking
advice about recovering damaged materials. DHC offers an overview of emergency preparedness and
recommends steps for action that dance organizations should be taking
right now, before disaster strikes. Read on.
Navigating Change: Succession in the Ballet World, Part 1
Whether a ballet company is replacing its founder or the person that put the company on the map, change at the top doesn’t come easy. Even if a search firm is on hand to smooth the process, transitions have their trials. As no company wants to stay in the same place, succession points toward the future — for its company, its board, and its dancers.
Preparing Your Organization for Facebook Search
Facebook recently began the rollout of social search. This powerful tool
will allow users on Facebook to enter queries such as “Broadway shows
in NYC my friends like,” “friends who like ballet,” or “concert venues
in Seattle my friends have been to.” Read on to learn more about harnessing this powerful interactive tool.
Navigating Change: Succession in the Ballet World, Part 2
Making a transition from one artistic director to another can be both daunting and exhilarating for ballet and dance company leadership. See how some major U.S. companies have navigated the rough waters to new artistic leadership.
The Hunt for New Work: Matching Choreographers to Companies
Selecting new choreographers for a program or a season seems a
straightforward enough process at first glance. Read on to find out how artistic directors
seek out new works for their companies sifting the choreographic gold from the dross.
Serious Selling: How To Turn Souvenir Sales into Merchandising That Makes Money
Many dance companies find that merchandise sales rarely amount to much in the way of profits.
But with creativity, resourcefulness, and commitment, performing-arts
organizations can turn merchandising into serious money. See how San Francisco Ballet turned its Ballet Shop into a profitable and distinctive representative of its company brand.
