CI to Eye – Details, episodes & analysis

Governor Ron DeSantis’ recent veto of over $30 million in arts and culture funding is more than just a financial blow to Florida arts organizations—it undermines the social and economic contributions our industry provides. How can we clearly communicate the vital role our organizations play to stakeholders and policymakers?

In this episode, CI’s VP, Managing Director Christopher Williams speaks with Chris Brown, Executive Director of Orlando Family Stage, about how advocates can make a stronger case for arts funding by highlighting the industry’s vital role in boosting local economies, fostering community well-being, and enriching society. 

LINKS:

NPR | Hundreds of Florida arts groups scramble for funding after DeSantis vetoes grants

Orlando Sentinel | Budget Cuts Spotlight The Vital Role of Arts in Florida

Orlando Family Stage | Press Release: Budget cuts spotlight the vital role of arts in Florida

New York Times | A Bargain at the Opera: Philadelphia Offers All Seats for as Low as $11

The Architect's Newspaper | In Harlem, Apollo Theater’s first ever full-scale renovation is underway by Beyer Blinder Belle

Social media is more than just a content dumping ground. It's where your organization makes its first impression on potential audiences and fosters relationships with existing fans. Press refresh on your paid and organic social strategies to tap new audiences, drive ticket sales, and cultivate brand loyalty in the season ahead.

Digital Download (2:10) - Dan sits down with CI Consultant Natalie Martinez to talk about advertising on TikTok: when it makes sense, how to get started, and the kind of results you can expect to see.

CI to Eye with Rachel Karten (17:20) - Dan catches up with Rachel Karten, a social media consultant and author of the popular newsletter Link In Bio. They discuss the evolving role of social media in the digital marketing landscape, and what most arts and culture organizations get wrong about organic content.

CI-lebrity Sightings (37:40) - Dan runs through our favorite stories about CI clients in the news.

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LINKS:

TikTok | Successfully Advertise on the World's Hottest Content Platform

Search Engine Land: 51% of Gen Z women prefer TikTok, not Google, for search

TikTok | Advertising Policies About Advertising to People Under the Age of 18

Taproot News | How arts organizations are working to attract younger audiences

Observer | Nicholas Baume On the Power of Public Art and What It’s Accomplishing in New York

New City Stage | Let There Be Luminance: How Lighting Designers Show Us the Show

The Kennedy Center | The 47th Kennedy Center Honors

From the rise of AI-driven advertising to the imminent third-party cookie crunch—which developments deserve your valuable time and attention in 2024?

At CI, we pinpointed five key areas that will set arts and cultural institutions up for success in 2024. Join us over the next two episodes as we delve into each area so you can confidently navigate the changing digital landscape, drive results for your organization, and refocus as we head into a new era of digital marketing. 

Crank the volume on Part One, and be on the lookout for Part Two in the coming weeks. We’ll round out the list of priorities and offer even more tips and insights from CI consultants.

LINKS:

Capacity Interactive | Your 2024 Digital Priorities

Pew Research Center | How Americans Use Social Media

Happy Black History Month, podcast listeners! Our latest episode coincides with the vibrant celebrations of Black history and shines a spotlight on the incredible contributions of Black and Brown composers, whose musical genius continues to enrich the classical repertoire.

Join us as we journey deep into the world of classical music—how we define it, how we enjoy it, and how we ensure everyone feels welcome and represented in our concert halls. This conversation is just the start of breaking down barriers to attendance and ensuring classical arts organizations connect with audiences for generations to come.

LINKS

Loki Karuna (Formerly Known As Garrett McQueen)

Star Tribune | Radio Host Garrett McQueen Agitates for Change While Elevating Black Artistry

New York Times | Pandemic Woes Lead Met Opera to Tap Endowment and Embrace New Work

NPR | Terence Blanchard Makes History At The Metropolitan Opera

CI to Eye is back with a healthy dose of inspiration to help you re-center at the top of the new year.

In 2023, we spoke with remarkable thought leaders both within and beyond the realm of the arts. Guests ranged from executive directors and arts researchers to experts in DEIBA. They all answered the same question: "If you could broadcast one message to executive directors, leadership teams, staff, and boards of thousands of arts organizations, what would it be?"

We call this their “CI to Eye moment,” and in this special episode, Dan revisits these key insights to offer encouragement and perspective for the year ahead.

QUICK LINKS

Capacity Interactive | Boot Camp 2024 Registration

The holidays are upon us, which means strategic planning is seriously heating up. Try as you might to enjoy your hot cocoa in peace, you’re already fielding ideas from colleagues about the marketing experiments you should try next season or the digital efforts your team simply needs to add to its list. 

Stay cool, arts marketers. We’re bringing you a special recording of our panel discussion from Boot Camp 2023 all about knowing when to say yes. And since it’s the holiday season, we’ll also take a look back at the year with all of you.

Empowered Decisions: Knowing When To Say Yes (1:25) - Sara Villagio from Carnegie Hall moderates a discussion with leaders from the Kennedy Center, the Apollo, and Sesame Workshop about how they innovate digital marketing strategies, inspire their teams, and question how best to use their (limited!) time.

End-of-Year Reflections (1:02:45) -  Hear from fellow arts marketers and Boot Camp attendees about their biggest learnings from the past year and what they’re most looking forward to in the months ahead.

We’re swiftly approaching one of the busiest times of year for arts marketers… and with it, holiday programs, gift campaigns, end-of-year donation pushes, and—to top it all off—strategic planning for next season. If the holiday hustle has you feeling a bit frigid, this episode will warm you up with actionable tips and smart questions to end the calendar year on a high note.

Digital Download (1:40) - Dan catches up with Senior Consultant Jess Isgro to discuss how to get the most out of your holiday gift campaigns, juggle concurrent end-of-year priorities, and implement learnings from the past year as you plan for 2024.

CI to Eye Interview (22:00) - CI President Priya Iyer Doshi sits down with Tara Mohr, a revered leadership expert and best-selling author who shares subtle mindset shifts that can grow your confidence in the workplace. Get ready to kick self-doubt to the curb as you tackle high-stakes strategic conversations for next season. 

LINKS:

Capacity Interactive | Ask CI: How Do I Optimize Holiday Gift Campaigns?

Tara Mohr | Playing Big Leadership Program

Subscription numbers continue to dwindle at arts organizations across the country, begging the question: Is it time to rethink subscription/membership models? Tune in for a transparent conversation with arts marketers who are doing just that, and gather tips for revamping your own offerings to meet audiences’ evolving needs.

Digital Download (2:05) - Dan digs into client data with fellow senior consultant Ali Blount to determine where arts buyers search, and whether social platforms like TikTok and Instagram are giving traditional search engines a run for their money.

CI to Eye Interview (11:40) - Sara Villagio, CMO of Carnegie Hall, leads a follow-up discussion with our subscriptions and memberships panelists from Boot Camp 2022. Hear how their season-long experiments fared and what new tactics they’re excited to test in the season ahead.

LINKS:

Capacity Interactive | Ask CI: Where Do Arts Buyers Search?

New York Times | For Gen Z, TikTok Is the New Search Engine

Capacity Interactive | 2021 Performing Arts Ticket Buyer Media Usage Study

Arts administrators wear a lot of hats, and that trend has only intensified as our industry finds itself in recovery mode. With all of our energies focused on audience re-engagement and revenue growth, organizational culture can often take a backseat. But with more news of quiet quitting and high burnout levels, investing in your people has never been more critical. 

Discover simple adjustments you can make today to lead stronger teams and create healthier work cultures that energize and empower the people around you.

Digital Download with Ali Blount (2:30) - Dan joins fellow senior consultant Ali Blount to review newly released benchmark data from CI’s clients and share inspiration as you begin planning for the upcoming winter season. 

Media Moment with Molly Shoemaker (14:35) - Dan chats with CI’s Director of People Operations and Recruiting about finding your footing with flexible work and helping your team thrive in and out of the office.

CI to Eye Interview with Snehi Bhatt (29:45) - CI’s President, Priya Iyer Doshi, sits down with a longtime friend and Leadership Development Executive at Admired Leadership to discuss the key pillars that set leaders up for success.

LINKS:

Capacity Interactive | Ask CI: Crafting The Perfect Digital Holiday Campaign

Work Appropriate | Remote Work Done Right with Marissa Goldberg

Admired Leadership | Field Notes

In the summer of 2020, George Floyd’s murder and the protests that followed sparked crucial conversations about racial equity and social justice. Many arts organizations made public commitments to do better—both in their programming and behind the scenes. It’s been three years since that pivotal moment, and it’s still imperative to hold ourselves accountable to move the needle on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility (DEIBA) in the arts. 

In this episode, Dan sits down with social psychologist Dr. Evelyn Carter to discuss the unique DEIBA challenges and opportunities we face in the arts and entertainment industry. Dr. Carter shares expert tips for living our values, creating welcoming environments, and addressing implicit bias in the workplace and beyond.

LINKS

Paradigm