Trends & Ideas
The AMS team is continually exploring emerging trends, issues, and insights in arts, culture, and entertainment. Through this section of our web site, we seek to share these discoveries with our peers.
Local Arts Agencies: Best Practices for a New Decade
Key strategies for arts agencies in changing times.
Cultural Districts and the 'Buy Local' Movement
Arts and culture can be integral to the current community trend to "buy local."
How big is your operating reserve?
Several sources suggest that three months of reserves are a place to start.
Are you ready to state your case to donors?
An interesting online discussion on March 17 at the Chronicle of Philanthropy's website explored the topic, ''Making Good Decisions About Giving: What Donors Need to Know.'' Do you know how your prospective donors are evaluating you? And are you ready to respond?
A Case Study in Effective Internet Surveying
The University of Idaho in Moscow lacked a permanent home for a robust Alumni Association.So AMS was called upon to help remedy this situation in the winter and spring of 2008, by conducting a feasibility study for a center dedicated to serving the over 80,000 alumni, 45 percent of whom live in the Gem State.
Reinvigorating a Community Cultural Center Project
With a strong investment in infrastructure and growing arts community, Estes Park, Colorado, was exploring its options for next steps: upgrading an existing facility, an adaptive reuse or infill project in downtown, or options on other nearby sites. To evaluate the alternatives and build consensus around a workable solution, the Town engaged AMS to undertake a feasibility study.
Financial Health Benchmarks: Ratios
To effectively assess and communicate your organization's financial condition, it is important to apply the right tools and benchmarks - to look at a standard set of gauges on your organization's dashboard, understand what they are telling you and communicate the results to your leadership, donors, and staff.
A New Approach to Confronting New Challenges
In early 2008, the leaders of Salt Lake County, Utah faced a dilemma: should they support the development of a 2,500-seat venue to house touring Broadway in the suburban city of Sandy, or a project to develop a similar venue in downtown Salt Lake City, only 15 miles away?
AMS Celebrates 20 Years
The first week of September marks the 20-year anniversary of a simple idea -- that as communities invest in the arts and culture, the success of their projects lies in understanding the whole endeavor: the people, buildings, infrastructure and resources...
Trends in Ticket Pricing
It is conventional wisdom in the arts and culture sector that ticket prices are determined based on "a sense" of what the market will bear as opposed to a clear understanding of market value and price elasticity. For the past...
Keys to Strategic Planning
n our rapidly changing world it is increasingly critical for leaders to ensure institutional alignment on organizational priorities and strategic direction. The trick, however, is to continuously balance laser-like focus on established goals while maintaining flexibility to adjust for unforeseen opportunities or challenges as they arise.
"Localism" -- Blogs, Brew, and Community Radio in Visalia
As part of a Cultural Plan AMS is undertaking for California's central valley community of Visalia, we recently facilitated a community discussion on the outdoor patio of a local brewpub, at which almost 30 mostly under-30-year-olds gathered to discuss their cultural interests.
A Look at Leadership: Stages of Development and the Board
In our many projects, we see arts organizations at all five stages of development: 1) start-up, 2) adolescent, 3) mature, 4) stagnant, and 5) shut-down. Each stage has its own challenges but the real struggle is recognizing the transitional period in between stages and ensuring that the appropriate Board leadership is in place when the next stage is realized.