Arts Unscripted with Monica Holt

As we near the end of 2022, arts organizations are still in recovery mode. Audiences are slow to return to cultural activities, and without proper benchmarks for attendance and revenue planning, arts leaders are without a compass. In this episode, we consider how audiences have evolved, propose fresh ways to engage and retain attendees, and share predictions for the new year. Media Moment (1:40) -...

In this episode, we navigate themes of authenticity and personal connection. From building teams that reflect the individual team members' strengths to breaking down institutional facades, it's time to get personal. Media Moment (01:00) - Erik and Priya nerd out about one of their favorite tools, the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment. They explore using this framework to bring teams together who...

In this episode, we embrace the evolution of digital content. From the shift towards vertical video across social media platforms to the imperative of website inclusivity and accessibility, you'll learn how to keep your organization moving forward.  Digital Download (09:32) - CI's graphic design team, Jess Berube and Stephanie Medina, share the scoop on Instagram's new immersive feed with design t...

In this episode, we explore themes of transition and turnover. From shifts away from old digital tools towards new ones to an honest exploration of the "Great Resignation" and its impact on the arts, it's time to adapt, grow, and evolve.  Media Moment - Erik and Priya break down an episode of Adam Grant's WorkLife podcast on "The Not-So-Great Resignation."  WorkLife Podcast with Adam Grant Digital...

In this episode, Priya sits down with Johnna Fellows Gluth and MP to dive into the 2021 Performing Arts Ticket Buyer Media Usage Study. They talk about what it means to be a loyal ticket buyer two years into the pandemic and explore where those audiences spend their time online, how much time they spend on their devices, and what influences them to purchase a ticket.

How do you diversify your audience? You might start by rethinking whether that's even the best question to ask. In this conversation, Theresa Ruth Howard poses alternative questions to leaders Zenetta Drew and Rachel Moore: What exactly does your organization mean when you talk about "diversifying audiences"? How do your organization's values inform audience diversification initiatives? How can yo...

Claire Spencer is the CEO of Arts Centre Melbourne, a massive multi-disciplinary performing arts center in Melbourne, Australia, that stages over 4,000 performances and public events per year for an audience of 3 million annual visitors. Claire is largely credited with changing the course of Arts Centre Melbourne and has spearheaded the establishment of the Arts Wellbeing Collective (AWC) a mental...

Nik Rama is Principal Analytical Lead at Google, where he also leads mindfulness sessions as part of the gPause program. He is interested in the intersection of neuroscience and meditation, particularly how to use these practices to help reshape the mind, improve wellbeing, and accomplish goals. In this episode, Nik shares the science behind how meditation can change your brain's structure. He als...

In response to demands for increased user privacy, Apple's iOS 14 update will make it easier for users to control how their data is shared with apps. Following suit with legislation like GDPR in Europe and CCPA in California, Apple and other tech companies are making updates that will change the entire digital marketing ecosystem as we know it. In this episode, Erik talks with four CI consultants...

Andrew Recinos is the President and CEO of Tessitura Network , a member-owned non-profit dedicated to advancing the business of arts and culture through technology, service, and community. In this episode, Andrew shares what he's learned from hundreds of arts leaders during his nine-month "listening tour" before becoming CEO of Tessitura. He also discusses what it's like to take on a new role duri...

Madeline Pollis is the Industry Enrichment Content Producer & Assistant to the President at Capacity Interactive. A former opera singer, Madeline joined Capacity Interactive in 2018, where she produces the CI to Eye podcast and CI to Eye Live! She also works on the Arts Industry Digital Marketing Benchmark Study, Performing Arts Ticket Buyer Media Usage Study, and is part of the team that produces...

Robin Terry is the Chairwoman and CEO for Motown Museum in Detroit, a cultural gem founded in 1985 by her grandmother, the late Esther Gordy Edwards, who was a senior executive at Motown Records and sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy. Robin has devoted the last two decades to preserving the legacy of Motown's iconic brand. In this episode, Robin shares why celebrating Motown's history can unite...

In this episode recorded live at Boot Camp 2020, Theresa Ruth Howard and Mariclare Hulbert explore multi-layered marketing challenges, including how to respond thoughtfully to social media criticism and how to communicate equity-related issues. They also investigate various power dynamics between marketers and organizational leaders, artists and organizations, and the general public and organizati...

Robin Cantrill-Fenwick is the CEO of Baker Richards, a UK-based arts software and consultancy specializing in earned income strategy and audience development for arts and culture. He was previously the Deputy Executive Director of the Mercury Theatre Colchester and led digital transformations for organizations including the UK's National Trust, The Royal Society (National Academy of Science), and...

Jennifer Rosenfeld is a business coach who collaborates with top musicians to create profitable and impactful online education businesses. A leading arts entrepreneurship educator and speaker, Rosenfeld has worked with non-profits, university music programs and conservatories, and professional musicians on developing a wide range of educational and artistic projects. She received her JD/MBA from S...

The guests on CI to Eye during 2020 provided hope, guidance, and insight during an unprecedented year. Listen to all of their "CI to Eye moments" in this special episode as you rebuild and reimagine the future of the arts.

Betty Avila is the Executive Director of Self Help Graphics & Art , an organization on the East side of Los Angeles. Working at the intersection of arts and social justice, Self Help's mission is to foster the creation and advancement of new art works by Chicana/o and Latinx artists, with a focus on printmaking. Betty was named one of C-Suite Quarterly Magazine's NextGen 10 in Philanthropy, Arts a...

This top-rated session from Capacity Interactive's Boot Camp 2020 explores what three incredible arts leaders have learned navigating their teams and themselves through this turbulent year. Whether you're a team member, lead a department, or run an entire organization, this session will give you inspiration and insight as we move through this uncertain time.

Joshua Dachs is one of the world's leading theater design consultants. Drawing on a background as a violinist, an architect, and a theatrical set and lighting designer, he has led FDA's consulting practice since 1984. He provides planning, programming, and design leadership for hundreds of successful projects, including the Mariinsky II Opera House in St. Petersburg and the newest Broadway theatre...

What is the state of the arts in 2020? Where are we? Where are we going? How have arts organizations responded to the massive changes driven by the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and the reckoning of systemic racism? In this episode, Erik speaks with three consultants to understand how the arts landscape has evolved and how it is moving forward. Tom O'Connor Consulting Group's Performing Arts Marketin...

Kristie Swink Benson is the Director of Communications at the High Museum of Art , where she has helped position the museum as an integral part of the fabric of Atlanta and developed a passionate and diverse audience. She built her communications career in government and the for-profit sector. In this episode, Kristie and Erik discuss how the High Museum programs beyond blockbusters, targets their...

Arthur Cohen is the Founder and CEO of LaPlaca Cohen . He oversees the company's research project, Culture Track , an ongoing study tracking the shifting attitudes and behaviors of cultural audiences in the United States. In this episode, Arthur and Erik discuss the findings of LaPlaca Cohen and Slover Linett's recent Culture Track study. This survey of arts audiences and the wider U.S. public see...