As a nonprofit service organization for the arts, we share what we learn with others.
The links on this page are comprised of a growing archive of articles, essays, and practical tools created by EmcArts team members; some were created to support services that inform our work with all clients, and others were originally created for specific clients, but all may be used as general resources by the arts field.
And, if you have a question about what you see here, feel free to send us an email.
Innovation and Capacity Building
o What is Innovation in the Arts? EmcArts' definition (PDF, 2 Pages)
o Lessons from the Field: Reflections from the Front Lines of Innovation in the Arts (PDF, 8 Pages)
o Innovate to Thrive: Keynote Address by Richard Evans for Arts for Colorado Summit 2010 (PDF, 20 Pages)
o Four Important Steps in an Innovation Process (PDF, 1 page)
o Practical Lessons in Incubating Innovation (PDF, 8 pages)
o Extract from EmcArts' Working Paper on Innovation in the Arts for the James Irvine Foundation (PDF, 3 pages)
Leadership
o Ten Behaviors Typical of Highly Innovative Leaders (PDF, 1 page)
Measurement and Evaluation
o Exploring Your Organization's Capacity to Innovate: An Overview of the Rubric of Innovative Capacity (PDF, 3 pages)
o Innovation Rubric [Sample Page] (PDF, 1 page)
EmcArts Newsletters
o Enrolling Others in your Innovation Project, Jan. 2010 (PDF, 3 Pages)
o Seeing Things Differently at the Portland Symphony Orchestra, November 2009 (PDF, 2 Pages)
o Challenging times call for "Business Unusual" Solutions & Strategizing about Cutbacks, April 2009 (PDF, 3 Pages)
Organizational Learning
o A Practice Theory for Organizational Learning (PDF, 6 pages)
Systems Dynamics Analysis Tools for the Arts Field
Tools for Mapping Current Causes and Effects & How to Shift Direction. System Dynamics analysis is a research discipline that helps to makes sense of complex interactions between people, organizations, natural resources any thing or things whose actions are influenced by others, and which influence others in their turn.
EmcArts is one of the first organizations to apply System Dynamics analysis to the arts and culture field. Our methodology helps clarify why things are as they are, and how to change them going below the surface of behaviors and trends that surprise (and often frustrate) organizations.
Through interventions using system analysis, our clients are learning how to extend the public benefit of their programs and sustain success. Such an approach is timely in the arts, and represents a significant opportunity for the field.
Click on the links below to find out more about what Systems Dynamics is, how it works, and Systems Dynamics mapping:
o What is Systems Mapping? (PDF, 4 pages)
o Method for Drawing Systems Dynamic Maps (PDF, 10 pages)
Other Topics
o Running Effective Meetings (PDF, 3 pages)
