Drag superstar Jackie Beat has been entertaining audiences across the U.S. and in Europe for over thirty years with her razor-sharp comedy and hysterical song parodies. Jackie has written special material for the likes of Rosie O’Donnell, Margaret Cho, Sandra Bernhard, Patricia Arquette, Jennifer Coolidge, Elvira and more.

In this episode, Erik interviews his favorite drag queen because arts administrators can learn a lot from Jackie about pivoting from live to digital programming and connecting on social media. Plus, at this point in quarantine, we can all use some laughs!

James Langley is the President of Langley Innovations, a strategic consulting and training firm,  which he founded to help institutions advance a philanthropic revolution. Over his career, James has worked with institutions across the country at different levels to help raise over $3 billion.

In this episode, Erik and James discuss his humanistic view on philanthropy, which prioritizes long-term relationship-building over short-term results. Based on those principles, James shares how to authentically cultivate first-time donors—like those you may have acquired recently through refunded tickets or online fundraising campaigns—and evolve them into lifetime supporters.

Seth Godin is the author of 19 books that have been bestsellers around the world. He has five TED talks and is involved in projects that spread his wisdom and generosity, like the altMBA, The Marketing Seminar, and his podcast, Akimbo. His blog is one of the most popular in the world.

In this episode, Seth Godin—one of Erik's heroes—shares his ideas for arts leaders in crisis and beyond. Please listen to these ideas carefully, think about them, and share them widely to unlock the future for the arts.

Colleen Dilenschneider is the publisher of Know Your Own Bone, the powerhouse website that provides data-driven insights about marketing, fundraising, engagement, and more for arts administrators. It's required reading for anyone working in arts and culture today. Colleen is also the Chief Market Engagement Officer at IMPACTS Research and Development, a data and technology company.

In this episode, Erik asks Colleen to share her research about how COVID-19 is impacting intentions to visit cultural entities and which types of organizations attendees intend to visit post-crisis. She also revisits her data on why cutting marketing budgets during financial difficulties is the wrong move.

Matías Tarnopolsky is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Philadelphia Orchestra. He previously served as Vice President of Artistic Planning for the New York Philharmonic, Senior Director of Artistic Planning for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Producer for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Singers.

Before temporarily closing its doors, The Philadelphia Orchestra gave a final performance on March 12, 2020, to an empty hall, yet still reached half a million people through livestream, video, and public radio. In this episode, Erik and Matías talk about how amid this crisis and beyond, every arts organization must transition to a media company.

Brett Egan is the President of the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland, where he provides training for arts leaders on strategic planning, fundraising, board development, and marketing.

In this episode, Brett and Erik discuss the seven clear steps arts leaders should consider when institutions are being put to the ultimate test. Brett also provides his guidance around fundraising, marketing, programming, and leadership during this unprecedented time.

COVID-19 Resources for Arts Organizations:

Americans for the Arts Economic Impact Dashboard: https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-topic/disaster-preparedness/the-economic-impact-of-coronavirus-on-the-arts-and-culture-sector

Americans for the Arts COVID-19 Resource and Response Center: https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-topic/disaster-preparedness/coronavirus-covid-19-resource-and-response-center

Nonprofit Finance Fund COVID-19 Tools and Resources: https://nff.org/covid-19-tools-and-resources-nonprofits

CI to Eye with Zannie Voss: https://ideas.capacityinteractive.com/ci-to-eye-podcast-episodes/critical-research-for-arts-leaders-zannie-voss

DeVos Institute of Arts Management COVID-19 Announcement: http://devosinstitute.umd.edu/What-We-Do/News-and-Announcements/Announcements/Announcements/COVID19%20Announcement

Anna Glass has been involved in the performing arts as both an artist and arts administrator for over twenty-five years. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem where she co-launched a collaborative initiative, with Virginia Johnson, addressing racial inequity in ballet.

In this episode, Anna and Erik talk about the challenges of leading an organization through the loss of its founder. They also discuss how the Dance Theatre of Harlem came back from its hiatus and received its biggest gift yet, a $4 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, to hire more dancers and grow its administrative staff.

Adam Roberts is Co-Founding Artistic Director of Austin-based TILT Performance Group, a theatre company comprised of paid adult performers with disabilities.

In this episode, Adam and Erik talk about the branding and positioning of the company. They also discuss what other arts organizations can learn about working with people with disabilities and how Adam and his colleagues have built a growing company with such loyalty that season tickets actually cost more per production than single tickets.

With more than 70 episodes, it can be overwhelming to dive into CI to Eye. This short episode highlights the archive so you can prioritize episodes that make the most sense for you. From leadership to marketing, fundraising and ED&I, there is something for every arts administrator at any career level.

Emily Simoness is the Founder and Executive Director of SPACE on Ryder Farm, a nonprofit artist residency program and organic farm located on a 225-year-old, 127-acre family homestead in Putnam County, New York. Artists from all over are invited to live and work on the farm, with the space and time they need to create their art.

In this episode, Emily and Erik talk about how SPACE on Ryder Farm transformed from an idea into one of the premier centers for the development of new artistic work in the U.S. They also talk about the radical power of analog connection in our tech-obsessed world.