What affects your success?

Friday, 02 December 2011 00:27

In the November seminar of the Kennedy Center’s Capacity Building: Detroit program, Michael Kaiser talked about the importance of doing an “environmental scan.”   What are the major factors that will influence and affect the work of your organization?  What challenges must be overcome?  What opportunities could your organization use to leverage success?  Who are your competitors – not just in our sector, but anywhere, for audience, media coverage and funding? 

Since all Cultural Alliance member organizations swim in the same sea, we want to do an environmental scan for our sector at the January membership meeting.   Together, we can see farther, with greater insight.  So, what do you want to know?  We will find experts to speak to us about what is happening in our region and what that means for arts and culture organizations. 

What will influence the decisions of major funders?  What are they looking for, what is their ability to give?

The economy – Detroit is near bankruptcy and all the suburbs are losing tax revenue too.   How will this impact our sector – in direct support, in consumer confidence?

Trends and tastes – what are our audiences looking for?  Are we providing the right experience to attract visitors, participants and supporters?

Technology, the digital world, and social media – how are people getting information?   What are the real opportunities for online fundraising, and what makes it work (or not)?

Climate of opinion – the world is looking at Detroit differently.  Is our sector seen as part of the new future?

Media coverage and the perception of arts and culture – how do others see us?

What environmental factors should we explore at the January meeting? Email me your ideas by December 19 at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .