Marketing and development teams in arts and cultural organizations work toward the same goals: generating revenue, deepening relationships, and advancing the mission. But too often, they’re doing that work in silos—on separate timelines, using different tools, and speaking to the same audiences in different ways. The result? Missed opportunities and diminished impact. In this episode, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Director of Marketing, Jeanna Vella, and Director of Development, Sara Clark, s...
May 29, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Recent political developments in the U.S.—from executive orders to proposed agency closures and evolving federal funding guidelines—have placed cultural organizations at the center of a national conversation about how institutions uphold their values and navigate their role in a rapidly changing America. In this episode, Brett Egan of the DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management breaks down what’s happening now, what’s at stake, and where cultural organizations might find unexpected oppo...
Apr 30, 2025•34 min
Great experiences don’t happen by accident—they’re designed with intention. From the first click on a website to the moment a visitor steps through your door to engagement after they leave, every interaction shapes how people feel about an organization. So what does it take to create a truly exceptional guest experience? Emily O’Hara, Senior Director of Guest Experience at the Detroit Zoological Society, thinks about this every day. In this episode, she shares how the Detroit Zoo fosters persona...
Mar 27, 2025•43 min
As we face growing political tensions in the U.S. and unprecedented government interference in arts and culture programming, sustaining our commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility (DEIBA) is more critical than ever. Recent executive actions have limited resources for our industry and further silenced historically excluded voices in our field. As these challenges mount, we must find new ways to advocate, collaborate, and ensure our work remains inclusive. This ep...
Feb 27, 2025•57 min
In this episode, we revisit some of the most powerful insights from last year’s guests to inspire and guide the year ahead. This isn’t just a look back—it’s a call to action for our industry. Listen as fourteen cultural leaders remind us why the arts matter and how we can continue to push boundaries, build connections, and lead with purpose.
Jan 28, 2025•18 min
The end of the year is a busy time for arts administrators, packed with holiday campaigns and fundraising deadlines. With so much happening, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. So today we’re taking a moment to pause, reflect, and reconnect with our “why.” In this episode, we revisit a popular Boot Camp 2024 conversation with CI President Priya Iyer Doshi and Terri Freeman, President of The Lewis Museum , about purpose-driven leadership and the resilience of our industry. Then, we ask...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 12 min
In today’s post-pandemic world, keeping our audiences engaged and organizations financially healthy can feel like an uphill battle. Changing audience behaviors have disrupted traditional marketing strategies, and high churn rates among first-time visitors, subscribers, and donors are slowing revenue growth. But what if there’s a way forward that breaks from the traditional playbook? In this episode, CI President Priya Iyer Doshi sits down with industry leader Aubrey Bergauer to discuss her new b...
Nov 21, 2024•47 min
The world is full of injustice and inequity, and most arts organizations have the best of intentions to be responsive in thoughtful and meaningful ways. But it can be challenging–boards and long-time patrons can push back on programming and messaging that feels unfamiliar to them, and change can feel unbearably slow when your organization lacks the necessary connections or resources within its larger community. In this episode, we’ll share never-before-aired insights on how to hold your organiza...
Oct 29, 2024•19 min
A solid web analytics strategy gives the insight you need to better understand your audiences, optimize your campaigns, and ultimately, drive more ticket sales or donations. But for many arts marketers, justifying a greater investment of time and money in web analytics can feel like an uphill battle—especially when making the case to senior leaders who are farther removed from the digital weeds. In this episode, we’ll help you bridge the gap between the technical side of GA4 and the high-level g...
Sep 26, 2024•25 min
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 ...
Sep 12, 2024•29 min
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 ...
Aug 27, 2024•40 min
A new cohort of inspiring and determined individuals has moved into leadership positions at cultural organizations—and they’re challenging traditional notions about what arts management should look like. In this episode, CI’s VP, Managing Director Christopher Williams sits down with three young leaders to discuss generational shifts in leadership styles, navigating the complexities of people management, and the changes they hope to see in their respective arts communities and the industry at lar...
Jul 25, 2024•1 hr 5 min
What sets successful diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and access (DEIBA) initiatives apart? It's not about checking boxes; it's about prioritizing authenticity and thoughtfulness. Some of the most impactful DEIBA work in our industry begins with arts organizations fostering genuine community partnerships and engaging audiences in meaningful ways. In this episode, we discuss inspiring examples of how embracing these principles can lead to profound, positive changes in our organizations. D...
Jun 27, 2024•44 min
Audience behavior has changed significantly over the past few years, and pre-pandemic benchmarks are all but obsolete. If we want to adjust to the demands of today’s market, we need updated markers for success. Enter: CI’s brand-new Cultural Compass study. We pulled from our own bank of campaign data that spans over 150 client organizations to uncover the latest digital marketing benchmarks and emerging trends for our industry. In this episode, lead researcher and Senior Consultant Ali Blount di...
May 30, 2024•26 min
Audience engagement is critical for attracting and retaining new attendees. But what exactly does it look like in practice? For Holly Mulcahy, “audience engagement” isn’t just a marketing platitude—it’s a promise. In this episode, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster and Partner for Audience Engagement shares what wine-tasting and birdwatching have to do with orchestral music, and why deepening audience relationships now will pay dividends for our organizations in the long run....
May 14, 2024•36 min
Across a variety of artistic genres, we see persistent gender imbalances among the creatives and leaders who make the art possible. That’s especially true for dance, where women continue to hold fewer artistic director positions and receive fewer choreographic opportunities than men despite making up a significant majority of the dance workforce overall. As full-blown data nerds here at CI, we believe you can’t change what you don’t measure. So we sat down with the team at Dance Data Project® to...
Apr 30, 2024•39 min
What do we do when “the classics”—those canonical treasures that embody the rich traditions of our genres—start to feel outdated for today’s audiences, or even at odds with our missions? In today’s episode, we take a close look at celebrated works from the classical Western canon that include harmful portrayals of non-Western cultures, and hear how one artist is taking action to prune and preserve the art he loves. Artist and advocate Phil Chan shares how performing arts organizations can approa...
Apr 16, 2024•40 min
Holding the artistic reins of an organization is no easy feat—especially when that organization has been around for generations and has a deep-rooted legacy. As a leader, how do you honor the rich history of your institution while effectively steering it into the future? As New York City Ballet celebrates its 75th anniversary season, Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford reflects on the Company’s continued evolution, how they’ve adapted to this new digital era, and the unique challenges of leading...
Apr 02, 2024•41 min
The changing digital landscape might present challenges, but it also presents a great opportunity to reassess and refocus as we head into a new era of digital marketing. At CI, we pinpointed five key areas that will set arts and cultural institutions up for success in 2024. Catch up on the first two priorities in Part One, then delve into the final three priorities in today’s episode. You’ll get insights and tips from CI consultants so you can confidently navigate the changing digital landscape,...
Mar 18, 2024•38 min
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 Pa...
Mar 04, 2024•29 min
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 dow...
Feb 20, 2024•36 min
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 mo...
Jan 30, 2024•17 min
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 ...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 10 min
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 holid...
Nov 14, 2023•1 hr 8 min
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 ...
Aug 29, 2023•57 min
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 ...
Jul 25, 2023•55 min
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 s...
Jun 13, 2023•56 min
Many of us are staring down end-of-fiscal-year goals, but it’s hard not to feel discouraged by prevailing economic uncertainty and ever-changing audience behavior. How do you keep your team motivated and mission-focused when the sands are shifting beneath your feet? Hear from fellow arts marketers who are leading their teams in fresh and creative ways, and dig into positive industry trends that show us the way forward. Today’s episode is the boost of inspiration you need to cross the fiscal fini...
May 02, 2023•1 hr 2 min
AI is generating a lot of buzz in the marketing sphere—but is it really worth the hype? In this episode we pull back the curtain on AI, explore its strengths and limitations, and consider how it can help arts marketers meet their goals more efficiently. Don’t miss this special, extended conversation with CI’s Managing Director Christopher Williams and Senior Consultant Dan Titmuss. They cover AI’s impact on the arts industry and pinpoint areas where AI can have the largest impact on your day-to-...
Mar 28, 2023•36 min
More than ever, arts marketers need to be purposeful about data collection, responsive to privacy regulations, and respectful of their audiences’ preferences. In 2023 and beyond, it’s all about staying user-centric and privacy-focused. Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered with expert insights from CI consultants, a data privacy expert, and a fellow arts marketer who's been in your shoes—and has a few words of advice. Digital Download (2:20) - Dan chats with fellow Senior Consultant Ali...
Feb 28, 2023•1 hr 6 min
