Episodes
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The world is full of injustice and inequity, and most arts organizations have the best of intentions to be responsive in thoughtful and meaningful ways. But it can be challenging–boards and long-time patrons can push back on programming and messaging that feels unfamiliar to them, and change can feel unbearably slow when your organization lacks the necessary connections or resources within its larger community.
In this episode, we’ll share never-before-aired insights on how to hold your organization accountable to its goals around representation, access, and equity, from a conversation recorded earlier this year between CI’s VP, Managing Director Christopher Williams and Canton Symphony Orchestra’s Rachel Hagemeier. Rachel discusses the Symphony’s podcast, Orchestrating Change, and the learnings and organizational shifts that have come out of those interviews, as well as the Symphony’s evolving model for community connection.
CI to Eye Interview (1:30) - CI’s Christopher Williams sits down with the Canton Symphony Orchestra’s Rachel Hagemeier to help listeners understand how to hold their organizations accountable to their mission and goals around representation, access, and equity.
CI-Lebrity Sightings (16:10) - Dan shares his favorite news stories about CI clients.
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LINKS:
Institute for Composer Diversity | 2023 Orchestra Repertoire Report
Cleveland.com | ‘I can’t breathe’: Ohio authorities investigating death of man in Canton police custody
Know Your Own Bone | Trust Trends for Cultural Entities at Mid-Year 2024
Know Your Own Bone | The Causes Likely Visitors Care About Most as We Enter the Election Cycle
Gothamist | After 19 years, a docent at the Rubin Museum says goodbye to his ‘home away from home’
Times of San Diego | San Diego Symphony Celebrates New Look Jacobs Music Center with Concert, ‘Day of Music’
BroadwayWorld | Steppenwolf, Goodman Theatre, and More Take Home Equity Jeff Awards
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A solid web analytics strategy gives the insight you need to better understand your audiences, optimize your campaigns, and ultimately, drive more ticket sales or donations. But for many arts marketers, justifying a greater investment of time and money in web analytics can feel like an uphill battle—especially when making the case to senior leaders who are farther removed from the digital weeds.
In this episode, we’ll help you bridge the gap between the technical side of GA4 and the high-level goals that matter to your organization’s decision-makers. With a few key tips, you’ll be able to show your boss and board members that investing in analytics is not only worthwhile, but actually critical for long-term success.
CI to Eye Interview (2:30) - Dan sits down with Yosaif Cohain, CI’s VP of Analytics, to help listeners bridge the gap between the technical side of analytics and the high-level goals that matter to arts organizations’ decision-makers.
CI-lebrity Sightings (23:10) - Dan shares his favorite news stories about CI clients.
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Missing episodes?
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Governor Ron DeSantis’ recent veto of over $30 million in arts and culture funding is more than just a financial blow to Florida arts organizations—it undermines the social and economic contributions our industry provides. How can we clearly communicate the vital role our organizations play to stakeholders and policymakers?
In this episode, CI’s VP, Managing Director Christopher Williams speaks with Chris Brown, Executive Director of Orlando Family Stage, about how advocates can make a stronger case for arts funding by highlighting the industry’s vital role in boosting local economies, fostering community well-being, and enriching society.
LINKS:
NPR | Hundreds of Florida arts groups scramble for funding after DeSantis vetoes grants
Orlando Sentinel | Budget Cuts Spotlight The Vital Role of Arts in Florida
Orlando Family Stage | Press Release: Budget cuts spotlight the vital role of arts in Florida
New York Times | A Bargain at the Opera: Philadelphia Offers All Seats for as Low as $11
The Architect's Newspaper | In Harlem, Apollo Theater’s first ever full-scale renovation is underway by Beyer Blinder Belle
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Social media is more than just a content dumping ground. It's where your organization makes its first impression on potential audiences and fosters relationships with existing fans. Press refresh on your paid and organic social strategies to tap new audiences, drive ticket sales, and cultivate brand loyalty in the season ahead.
Digital Download (2:10) - Dan sits down with CI Consultant Natalie Martinez to talk about advertising on TikTok: when it makes sense, how to get started, and the kind of results you can expect to see.
CI to Eye with Rachel Karten (17:20) - Dan catches up with Rachel Karten, a social media consultant and author of the popular newsletter Link In Bio. They discuss the evolving role of social media in the digital marketing landscape, and what most arts and culture organizations get wrong about organic content.
CI-lebrity Sightings (37:40) - Dan runs through our favorite stories about CI clients in the news.
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LINKS:
TikTok | Successfully Advertise on the World's Hottest Content Platform
Search Engine Land: 51% of Gen Z women prefer TikTok, not Google, for search
TikTok | Advertising Policies About Advertising to People Under the Age of 18
Taproot News | How arts organizations are working to attract younger audiences
Observer | Nicholas Baume On the Power of Public Art and What It’s Accomplishing in New York
New City Stage | Let There Be Luminance: How Lighting Designers Show Us the Show
The Kennedy Center | The 47th Kennedy Center Honors
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A new cohort of inspiring and determined individuals has moved into leadership positions at cultural organizations—and they’re challenging traditional notions about what arts management should look like.
In this episode, CI’s VP, Managing Director Christopher Williams sits down with three young leaders to discuss generational shifts in leadership styles, navigating the complexities of people management, and the changes they hope to see in their respective arts communities and the industry at large.
2:20 - Canton Symphony Orchestra’s Rachel Hagemeier reflects on her promotion to CEO at just 25 years old. She shares hard-won lessons in people management, self-advocacy, and listening to your gut.
21:05 - Monica Holt chats about her career advancement at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the vulnerability of leadership, and the power of learning new skills.
41:40 - CI’s Priya Iyer Doshi pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to be a young president. She talks about bringing your authentic self to work, managing people with more years of experience, and listening deeply to your colleagues.
1:02:30 - CI’s Dan Titmuss shares his favorite stories about clients in the news.
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What sets successful diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and access (DEIBA) initiatives apart? It's not about checking boxes; it's about prioritizing authenticity and thoughtfulness.
Some of the most impactful DEIBA work in our industry begins with arts organizations fostering genuine community partnerships and engaging audiences in meaningful ways. In this episode, we discuss inspiring examples of how embracing these principles can lead to profound, positive changes in our organizations.
Digital Download (2:15) - Dan sits down with Consultant Selia Aponte to talk about reaching new audiences with bilingual ads: how to use them, when they work best, and how to ensure a smooth audience journey for ESL attendees.
CI to Eye with John Orr (15:15) - CI President Priya Iyer Doshi chats with John Orr, Executive Director of Art-Reach in Philadelphia. They discuss how we can make the arts a more inclusive space for disabled and chronically ill audiences, and ensure the full spectrum of society is served through our programming.
CI-lebrity Sightings (42:00) - Dan highlights some of CI’s favorite arts stories in the news.
LINKS:
Art-Reach
New York Times | At Museums, a Revolution Gains Momentum
American Theatre Magazine | They Will Survive: Theatres That Are Beating the Odds
Associated Press | At 75, NYC Ballet is getting older. Its audience is skewing younger, and that’s the plan
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Audience behavior has changed significantly over the past few years, and pre-pandemic benchmarks are all but obsolete. If we want to adjust to the demands of today’s market, we need updated markers for success.
Enter: CI’s brand-new Cultural Compass study. We pulled from our own bank of campaign data that spans over 150 client organizations to uncover the latest digital marketing benchmarks and emerging trends for our industry. In this episode, lead researcher and Senior Consultant Ali Blount discusses the biggest surprises in her analysis of more than 7,000 digital campaigns, and previews key findings to inform your FY25 media planning.
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Audience engagement is critical for attracting and retaining new attendees. But what exactly does it look like in practice?
For Holly Mulcahy, “audience engagement” isn’t just a marketing platitude—it’s a promise. In this episode, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster and Partner for Audience Engagement shares what wine-tasting and birdwatching have to do with orchestral music, and why deepening audience relationships now will pay dividends for our organizations in the long run.
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Across a variety of artistic genres, we see persistent gender imbalances among the creatives and leaders who make the art possible. That’s especially true for dance, where women continue to hold fewer artistic director positions and receive fewer choreographic opportunities than men despite making up a significant majority of the dance workforce overall.
As full-blown data nerds here at CI, we believe you can’t change what you don’t measure. So we sat down with the team at Dance Data Project® to discuss the latest industry stats and consider how to carve a path forward for gender equity in dance.
Dance Data Project® promotes gender equity in the dance industry through metrics-based analysis. In this interview, they overview their latest research, programming, and advocacy work to showcase and uplift women across the dance industry—from artistic and executive leaders, to lighting designers and commissioned composers.
LINKS:
Dance Data Project®
New York Times | Do Men Still Rule Ballet? Let Us Count the Ways.
Dance Magazine | Over 80% of Ballets Are Still Choreographed By Men
Pointe Magazine | Ballet's Gender Gap—By the Numbers
Data USA | Dancers and Choreographers Workforce
New Scientist | Doctors ‘nudged’ into prescribing far fewer antibiotics
ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EQUITY IN DANCE:
Final Bow for Yellowface
Gold Standard Arts Foundation
Cultural Competency and Equity Coalition (C²EC)
The Equity Project
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What do we do when “the classics”—those canonical treasures that embody the rich traditions of our genres—start to feel outdated for today’s audiences, or even at odds with our missions?
In today’s episode, we take a close look at celebrated works from the classical Western canon that include harmful portrayals of non-Western cultures, and hear how one artist is taking action to prune and preserve the art he loves.
Artist and advocate Phil Chan shares how performing arts organizations can approach works from the classical Western canon with enhanced cultural sensitivity and authenticity. He offers tips and real-world examples for updating outdated representations of non-Western cultures while maintaining the integrity of these works.
LINKS:
Final Bow for Yellowface
Gold Standard Arts Foundation
Boston Lyric Opera | The Butterfly Process
Dance Magazine | Indiana University Removes Offensive Caricatures in New Productions of The Nutcracker and La Bayadère
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Holding the artistic reins of an organization is no easy feat—especially when that organization has been around for generations and has a deep-rooted legacy. As a leader, how do you honor the rich history of your institution while effectively steering it into the future?
As New York City Ballet celebrates its 75th anniversary season, Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford reflects on the Company’s continued evolution, how they’ve adapted to this new digital era, and the unique challenges of leading such a storied cultural entity.
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The changing digital landscape might present challenges, but it also presents a great opportunity to reassess and refocus as we head into a new era of digital marketing.
At CI, we pinpointed five key areas that will set arts and cultural institutions up for success in 2024. Catch up on the first two priorities in Part One, then delve into the final three priorities in today’s episode. You’ll get insights and tips from CI consultants so you can confidently navigate the changing digital landscape, drive results for your organization, and refocus as we head into a new era of digital marketing.
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From the rise of AI-driven advertising to the imminent third-party cookie crunch—which developments deserve your valuable time and attention in 2024?
At CI, we pinpointed five key areas that will set arts and cultural institutions up for success in 2024. Join us over the next two episodes as we delve into each area so you can confidently navigate the changing digital landscape, drive results for your organization, and refocus as we head into a new era of digital marketing.
Crank the volume on Part One, and be on the lookout for Part Two in the coming weeks. We’ll round out the list of priorities and offer even more tips and insights from CI consultants.
LINKS:
Capacity Interactive | Your 2024 Digital Priorities
Pew Research Center | How Americans Use Social Media
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Happy Black History Month, podcast listeners! Our latest episode coincides with the vibrant celebrations of Black history and shines a spotlight on the incredible contributions of Black and Brown composers, whose musical genius continues to enrich the classical repertoire.
Join us as we journey deep into the world of classical music—how we define it, how we enjoy it, and how we ensure everyone feels welcome and represented in our concert halls. This conversation is just the start of breaking down barriers to attendance and ensuring classical arts organizations connect with audiences for generations to come.
LINKS
Loki Karuna (Formerly Known As Garrett McQueen)
Star Tribune | Radio Host Garrett McQueen Agitates for Change While Elevating Black Artistry
New York Times | Pandemic Woes Lead Met Opera to Tap Endowment and Embrace New Work
NPR | Terence Blanchard Makes History At The Metropolitan Opera
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CI to Eye is back with a healthy dose of inspiration to help you re-center at the top of the new year.
In 2023, we spoke with remarkable thought leaders both within and beyond the realm of the arts. Guests ranged from executive directors and arts researchers to experts in DEIBA. They all answered the same question: "If you could broadcast one message to executive directors, leadership teams, staff, and boards of thousands of arts organizations, what would it be?"
We call this their “CI to Eye moment,” and in this special episode, Dan revisits these key insights to offer encouragement and perspective for the year ahead.
QUICK LINKS
Capacity Interactive | Boot Camp 2024 Registration
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The holidays are upon us, which means strategic planning is seriously heating up. Try as you might to enjoy your hot cocoa in peace, you’re already fielding ideas from colleagues about the marketing experiments you should try next season or the digital efforts your team simply needs to add to its list.
Stay cool, arts marketers. We’re bringing you a special recording of our panel discussion from Boot Camp 2023 all about knowing when to say yes. And since it’s the holiday season, we’ll also take a look back at the year with all of you.
Empowered Decisions: Knowing When To Say Yes (1:25) - Sara Villagio from Carnegie Hall moderates a discussion with leaders from the Kennedy Center, the Apollo, and Sesame Workshop about how they innovate digital marketing strategies, inspire their teams, and question how best to use their (limited!) time.
End-of-Year Reflections (1:02:45) - Hear from fellow arts marketers and Boot Camp attendees about their biggest learnings from the past year and what they’re most looking forward to in the months ahead.
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We’re swiftly approaching one of the busiest times of year for arts marketers… and with it, holiday programs, gift campaigns, end-of-year donation pushes, and—to top it all off—strategic planning for next season. If the holiday hustle has you feeling a bit frigid, this episode will warm you up with actionable tips and smart questions to end the calendar year on a high note.
Digital Download (1:40) - Dan catches up with Senior Consultant Jess Isgro to discuss how to get the most out of your holiday gift campaigns, juggle concurrent end-of-year priorities, and implement learnings from the past year as you plan for 2024.
CI to Eye Interview (22:00) - CI President Priya Iyer Doshi sits down with Tara Mohr, a revered leadership expert and best-selling author who shares subtle mindset shifts that can grow your confidence in the workplace. Get ready to kick self-doubt to the curb as you tackle high-stakes strategic conversations for next season.
LINKS:
Capacity Interactive | Ask CI: How Do I Optimize Holiday Gift Campaigns?
Tara Mohr | Playing Big Leadership Program
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Subscription numbers continue to dwindle at arts organizations across the country, begging the question: Is it time to rethink subscription/membership models? Tune in for a transparent conversation with arts marketers who are doing just that, and gather tips for revamping your own offerings to meet audiences’ evolving needs.
Digital Download (2:05) - Dan digs into client data with fellow senior consultant Ali Blount to determine where arts buyers search, and whether social platforms like TikTok and Instagram are giving traditional search engines a run for their money.
CI to Eye Interview (11:40) - Sara Villagio, CMO of Carnegie Hall, leads a follow-up discussion with our subscriptions and memberships panelists from Boot Camp 2022. Hear how their season-long experiments fared and what new tactics they’re excited to test in the season ahead.
LINKS:
Capacity Interactive | Ask CI: Where Do Arts Buyers Search?
New York Times | For Gen Z, TikTok Is the New Search Engine
Capacity Interactive | 2021 Performing Arts Ticket Buyer Media Usage Study
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Arts administrators wear a lot of hats, and that trend has only intensified as our industry finds itself in recovery mode. With all of our energies focused on audience re-engagement and revenue growth, organizational culture can often take a backseat. But with more news of quiet quitting and high burnout levels, investing in your people has never been more critical.
Discover simple adjustments you can make today to lead stronger teams and create healthier work cultures that energize and empower the people around you.
Digital Download with Ali Blount (2:30) - Dan joins fellow senior consultant Ali Blount to review newly released benchmark data from CI’s clients and share inspiration as you begin planning for the upcoming winter season.
Media Moment with Molly Shoemaker (14:35) - Dan chats with CI’s Director of People Operations and Recruiting about finding your footing with flexible work and helping your team thrive in and out of the office.
CI to Eye Interview with Snehi Bhatt (29:45) - CI’s President, Priya Iyer Doshi, sits down with a longtime friend and Leadership Development Executive at Admired Leadership to discuss the key pillars that set leaders up for success.
LINKS:
Capacity Interactive | Ask CI: Crafting The Perfect Digital Holiday Campaign
Work Appropriate | Remote Work Done Right with Marissa Goldberg
Admired Leadership | Field Notes
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In the summer of 2020, George Floyd’s murder and the protests that followed sparked crucial conversations about racial equity and social justice. Many arts organizations made public commitments to do better—both in their programming and behind the scenes. It’s been three years since that pivotal moment, and it’s still imperative to hold ourselves accountable to move the needle on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility (DEIBA) in the arts.
In this episode, Dan sits down with social psychologist Dr. Evelyn Carter to discuss the unique DEIBA challenges and opportunities we face in the arts and entertainment industry. Dr. Carter shares expert tips for living our values, creating welcoming environments, and addressing implicit bias in the workplace and beyond.
LINKS
Paradigm
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