Conversations

Arts Leaders Alone / Together offers free one-on-one conversations with other arts leaders. Arts leaders who are seeking help can sign up for a free confidential one-on-one conversation with another arts leaders who have volunteered to help. The help-seeker will bring in a topic or question that you would like to discuss.

We know that we cannot solve major problems in a single 45-minute conversation. However, the goal of these conversations is for the help-seeker to have an experienced arts leader serve as a thought partner, a strategy/tactics advisor, a sounding board, a compassionate colleague, or a sympathetic ear for you and hopefully facilitate a way to for you to move forward.

How Does it Work?

The aim is to connect people as soon as possible and remove any barriers. This service is free until April 30. We only ask that you show up at your appointment—please do not sign up for a slot and not show up and waste the volunteer consultant’s time. If you must cancel, please follow the cancelation process (found in the appointment confirmation) at least 12 hours in advance of your appointment.

See the overview of the process below.

What Support Do You Need?

All of us arts leaders are looking at an extended period of uncertainty. But as we remain socially distant from one another, we don’t have to figure out a way forward all by ourselves. Perhaps a conversation with a colleague can offer a new perspective that might help unlock you and forge a new pathway.What would you like to talk about? What are the immediate areas of concern for your organization? What kind of feedback would be most useful for you from a colleague at another arts organization?

Sample Topics Might Include:

• How do I make difficult budgetary decisions?

• How can we fundraise for emergency needs like salary and keeping the doors open?

• What can we do to communicate the urgency of our needs to the people we serve?

• Is there a way to turn the artistic resources I have into a program that will work online?

• How can I advocate for relief funding for my organization and for the arts sector?

• How do I keep all the staff and volunteers of an organization engaged in this socially distant period?

• How can we continue to engage our audiences in this socially distant period?

• How can our organization respond to the current situation in a way that aligns with our mission?

• How can we raise the profile of our arts organization in our local community?

• This is our plan to address the current situation.... what do you think about it?

What If You Know You Need Help, But You Don’t Know How to Explain It?

As arts leaders, sometimes there’s just too many things on our mind. There are so many issues to think about and you may not be sure what sort of help is needed. If you’re struggling with coming up with a specific topic, we recommend looking for a volunteer who is a coach — this person is likely very experienced in one-on-one conversations and asking good framing questions to understand your issues.