Leading the Way with TRG Arts

Jill S. Robinson closes out season 1 of Leading the Way with a retrospective considering the patterns and through lines of her conversations this year. Innovators or disruptors all, the guests of Leading the Way point to not only the key pillars of TRG Arts, but also the direction of necessary attention for arts and cultural leaders heading into 2024 and longer, 2040 and beyond. 

For additional resources and to sign up for the podcast newsletter, we invite you to visit our website at leadingthewaypodcast.com.  

Key Topics & Chapter Markers:  

Introduction to the Final Episode (00:00:00.330): Jill S. Robinson introduces the final episode of the "Leading the Way" podcast, reflecting on the leadership thoughts and examples discussed since late 2023, focusing on the sector's recovery and resiliency. 

First Pillar - Financial Stability (00:00:00.330): Conversation with Vincent Van Vliet (Phoenix Theater) and Jill Anderson (Syracuse Stage) about financial stability in the arts sector, highlighting positive growth during the pandemic. 

Second Pillar - Customer Relationships (00:01:49.600): Discussions on customer relationships with Tom Bird (Sheffield Theaters) and Ross Benny (Cleveland Orchestra), focusing on relevance, future audiences, and innovative membership programs. 

Third Pillar - Organizational Frameworks (00:03:31.570): Highlighting the importance of organizational frameworks, with examples from Boston Children’s Chorus's new framework led by Andres Holder and Akiba Abaka. 

Fourth Pillar - People-Centric Teams (00:05:21.330): Discussion with Andrew Taylor on the "overhead myth" and its impact on people-centric teams in the arts and cultural sector. 

Wrap-Up and Broader Conversation (00:06:49.970): A broader conversation with Alicia Lawyer (Roko) about disruption in classical music, touching upon all four key pillars. 

Four Provocations for the Future (00:06:49.970): Jill S. Robinson shares her thoughts and provocations on the current state and future of the arts and cultural sector, focusing on the rigid nonprofit mindset, the need for growth capital, the "Great Shakeup," and setting sights on 2040. 

Conclusion and Thanks (00:17:02.200): Closing remarks, thanking listeners and inviting suggestions for future inspiration. 

Podcast Closing and Invitation to Subscribe (00:17:55.510): Conclusion of the podcast episode, inviting listeners to subscribe and visit the website for more resources. 

Contact Info:  

[email protected]  

In this episode, Jill talks with Alecia Lawyer (artistic director and founder of the chamber orchestra, ROCO). Alecia shares how this Houston-based orchestra disrupts and innovates the traditional presentation of classical music. With a revenue model where 95% comes from contributed revenue, ROCO designs audience-first experiences. Alecia is putting the fun, access, and creative license back into the world of classical music through what she calls wildcatting in the arts.   

For additional resources and to sign up for the podcast newsletter, we invite you to visit our website at leadingthewaypodcast.com.    

Key Topics & Chapter Markers:    

[00:01:32.910] - Introduction and ROCO's acronym change discussion.  

[00:02:21.550] - Alecia Lawyer's background and how she founded ROCO.  

[00:08:03.130] - ROCO's unique approach to classical music.  

[00:09:16.270] - Explanation of "Wildcatting in the Arts" and its importance.  

[00:19:47.350] - The special audience experience and program book features.  

[00:24:33.850] - Integrating personal and professional aspects in ROCO.  

[00:25:04.690] - The role of faith and vulnerability in Alecia Lawyer's journey.  

[00:26:13.720] - Creating a safe space for musicians to take risks and find rewards.  

[00:28:04.330] - Agency, co-creation, and the relationship between composers, musicians, and the audience.  

[00:46:49.400] - Development of the Octava app and its original purpose.  

[00:49:21.650] - Inspiration behind creating the children's book "Nightingale."  

[00:52:08.880] - Leadership journey of ROCO and challenges in maintaining its culture. 

Contact Info:   

[email protected] 

In this episode, Jill talks with Andrew Taylor (program director and associate professor of Arts Management at American University), a leading voice in the North American nonprofit arts sector, to discuss the prevalent issue of the “overhead myth.”  The discussion takes a deep dive into the challenges arts organizations face, the scarcity mindset, and the importance of understanding the values in direct and indirect costs. Andrew also talks about educating future arts leaders about these financial intricacies. 

For additional resources and to sign up for the podcast newsletter, we invite you to visit our website at leadingthewaypodcast.com.

Key Topics & Chapter Markers:  

[00:02:04.970] The Infinite Game  

[00:03:19.190] The Overhead Myth  

[00:06:03.800] Mindset around Scarcity  

[00:11:12.790] Role of Communication in Budgeting  

[00:11:24.520] Starvation Cycle  

[00:14:08.800] Overhead Costs  

[00:16:22.410] Finding a Balance in Overhead  

[00:18:49.140] Shifting Dynamics in Arts  

[00:23:30.520] Artistic Evolution and Challenges  

[00:27:45.250] Venture Capital in Arts  

[00:28:45.690] Philanthropy and Overhead  

[00:32:15.850] Teaching Overhead to the Younger Generation  

[00:34:36.260] Future Leaders in the Arts  

[00:36:00.310] Power Dynamics in Arts Management  

[00:37:49.430] Direct and Indirect Costs   

Contact Info:  

[email protected]

In this episode, the Boston Children's Chorus (BCC) shares its organizational mission, spotlighting the pivotal role of its new Director of Good Trouble. Guests Andrés Holder and Akiba Abaka offer listeners a deep dive into BCC's community engagement, its programming, performance metrics, and visionary educational initiatives. Andrés and Akiba also share their views on the broader concept of "just cause" within the arts sector and the importance of it to the sustainability of BCC.  

For additional resources and to sign up for the podcast newsletter, we invite you to visit our website at leadingthewaypodcast.com.

Key Topics & Chapter Markers: 

00:03 Boston Children's Chorus history. 

00:05 Akiba's role.  

00:07 Concept of "Good Trouble" 

00:12 - Listening Tour.  

00:17 BCC community and services.  

00:20 BCC performance stats.  

00:24 BCC's educational plans. 

00:27 "Just cause" in arts.  

00:35 Organizational sustainability.  

00:42 Arts relevance and financial models.  

00:48 Leadership in the arts. 

00:52 Changing arts focus.  

00:57 Optimism about change.  

01:01 Insights on "Great resignation".  

01:03 Entrepreneurial spirit post-pandemic. 

 
Contact Info:
[email protected] 

Newsletter sign-up: 
For additional resources and to sign up for the podcast newsletter, we invite you to visit our website at leadingthewaypodcast.com. 

Ross Binnie of The Cleveland Orchestra joins Jill to discuss the orchestra's decade-old Center for Future Audiences program. The initiative aims to attract younger audiences to classical music concerts. Binnie discusses their digital platform "Adella" and their mission to shift perceptions of classical music to make it more inclusive. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of finding new ways to engage and retain audiences across age groups and shares how The Cleveland Orchestra is doing just that.  

For additional resources and to sign up for the podcast newsletter, we invite you to visit our website at leadingthewaypodcast.com.

Contact Info:
[email protected] 

Newsletter sign-up: 
For additional resources and to sign up for the podcast newsletter, we invite you to visit our website at leadingthewaypodcast.com. 

In this two-part episode, Jill sits down with accomplished UK arts leader Tom Bird (Chief Executive at Sheffield Theatres). Drawing inspiration from Nina Simon's book, "The Art of Relevance" and their own personal leadership experiences, Jill and Tom engage in a rich dialogue about how to keep audiences at the center of every decision and what relevance means in today's arts and cultural industry. 

For additional resources and to sign up for the podcast newsletter, we invite you to visit our website at leadingthewaypodcast.com. 

In this two-part episode, Jill sits down with accomplished UK arts leader Tom Bird (Chief Executive at Sheffield Theatres). Drawing inspiration from Nina Simon's book, "The Art of Relevance" and their own personal leadership experiences, Jill and Tom engage in a rich dialogue about how to keep audiences at the center of every decision and what relevance means in today's arts and cultural industry. 

For additional resources and to sign up for the podcast newsletter, we invite you to visit our website at leadingthewaypodcast.com. 

In this episode, Jill highlights two arts leaders and their organizations that are not just surviving but thriving in contrast to overwhelmingly negative narratives surrounding American theatre. Jill Anderson (Managing Director of Syracuse Stage) and Vincent VanVleet (Executive Director of The Phoenix Theatre Company) share how they've managed to keep their theatre organizations robust in financial stability, fundraising and marketing strategies, artistic innovation, and mission fulfillment. 

For additional resources and to sign up for the podcast newsletter, we invite you to visit our website at leadingthewaypodcast.com.