In Wednesday’s (6/29) Plain Dealer (Cleveland), Steven Litt writes, “The message from the Cleveland Foundation to the city’s arts organizations isn’t quite as blunt as change or die. But it’s close, and there’s urgency behind it. The foundation’s trustees today voted to approve a three-year, $5 million-plus program aimed at helping a dozen hand-picked organizations, including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland and Karamu House. The premise behind the program, called ‘Engaging the Future,’ is that while Northeast Ohio boasts enviable strength in the arts, those riches could dwindle unless organizations adapt quickly to changes in demographics, technology, cultural tastes and lifestyles. … The foundation’s initiative will include three years of operating support at present levels for the selected institutions, plus workshops and seminars led by EmcArts, a New York-based consulting group that specializes in helping cultural organizations adapt to change. The firm will help participating organizations develop their own in-house teams aimed at promoting change from within. … Along with the orchestra, MOCA and Karamu, the other participating organizations are Apollo’s Fire: the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra; the Beck Center; the Cleveland Play House; Cleveland Public Theatre; Great Lakes Theater; Groundworks Dance Theatre; Spaces gallery and Verb Ballets.”
Posted July 1, 2011
