CI to Eye | Why Audiences Aren't Coming Back and How to Fix It

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 opportunity in the turbulence.  CI to Eye with Brett Egan (1:30) -- CI’s President (Interim) Christopher Williams sits down with Brett Egan, President of the DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management. They discuss how to prepare for threats to the arts and cultural industry, and rethink what resilience means moving forward. CI-lebrity Sightings (31:55) -- Dan Titmuss shares his favorite stories about CI clients in the news. This month’s episode spotlights The Juilliard School, Louisville Orchestra, and San Diego Theatres.  LINKS: DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management Capacity Interactive | The Arts and Culture Sector is Facing a Funding Squeeze in 2025 New York Times | Juilliard Plans $550 Million Drive to Go Tuition Free Sentinel News | Louisville Orchestra bring classical music to all corners of Kentucky Broadway World | San Diego Civic Theatre Will Get $7.5 Million Renovation  

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 personal connections and creates a welcoming, engaging environment for every guest. We explore practical strategies for delivering wildly good experiences that turn visitors into raving (and returning) fans. CI to Eye with Emily O'Hara (1:30) – Dan and Emily discuss the growing importance of hospitality in arts and culture, making our venues more accessible with thoughtful accommodations, and the magic of penguin exhibits.  CI-lebrity Sightings (41:00) – Dan shares his favorite stories of CI clients in the news. This episode’s roundup includes ArtsEmerson, Boston Ballet, The Children’s Theater of Cincinnati, The Huntington Theatre, and San Francisco Symphony. ---- LINKS: WBUR | Free tickets drop for Boston kids as performance arts venues join city program Broadway World | The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati Receives $2 Million Anonymous Challenge Gift San Francisco Chronicle | S.F. Symphony and Conservatory of Music announce benefit concert for Los Angeles fire relief

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 episode revisits a powerful conversation with Dr. Evelyn Carter from June 2023 about what it takes to uphold DEIBA commitments when the going gets tough. Dr. Carter shares heartening advice and actionable strategies for arts and cultural administrators to meet this moment with purpose and resilience. --- SEGMENTS: CI to Eye Interview (3:00) - 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. CI-lebrity Sightings (54:10) - Dan recaps his favorite stories of CI clients in the news. This month’s newsmakers include Detroit Symphony Orchestra, NYU Skirball, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Musical Instrument Museum, Los Angles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Pittsburgh Symphony. --- LINKS: NPR | 'Chilling effect': Arts organizations react to end of DEI initiatives from fed agency CBS News | How Trump is reshaping the Kennedy Center, moving away from "woke culture" CI to Eye | Sustaining DEIBA Commitments WHYY | From a childhood dream to leading orchestras: The power of music education New York Times | 'How Did I Get Here?' 7 Days in the Life of a Busy Arts Programmer USA Today | 10 best music museums in the US that will rock your world Symphony | 2025 Classical Grammy Award Winners

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.

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 arts administrators to reflect on their year and what’s fueling their passion in 2025. It will leave you feeling grounded, inspired, and ready to tackle what’s ahead. CI to Eye with Terri Freeman (1:30) - Live from Boot Camp 2024, CI President Priya Iyer Doshi sits down with Terri Freeman, President of The Lewis Museum. Together they discuss purpose-driven leadership, resilience, and navigating uncertainty with clarity. It’s a timely conversation and a powerful reminder of the importance of our work. Ask The Industry (59:30) - Dan takes his microphone to the Boot Camp floor to ask arts administrators about their year in review. They share their excitements, challenges, and what’s keeping them inspired as we roll into 2025. Listen for familiar voices from Acadiana Center for the Arts, ArtOps, ArtsWave, Ballet BC, Carnegie Hall, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Charleston Gaillard Center, Cincinnati Arts Association, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Houston Ballet, Huntington Theatre Company, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Madison Symphony Orchestra, New York Theatre Workshop, Paper Mill Playhouse, Proctors Collaborative, Signature Theatre, Trinity Rep, University Musical Society, YoungArts, and ZACH Theatre.

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 book, Run It Like A Business. Aubrey draws inspiration from outside the arts to rethink how organizations can boost relevance, drive revenue, and better serve our communities. Discover how adapting for-profit strategies for non-profit goals can help move your organization forward. ----- CI to Eye with Aubrey Bergauer (1:30) - CI President Priya Iyer Doshi sits down with Run It Like A Business author Aubrey Bergauer to discuss some of the book’s key ideas that can make a big difference in our organizations. CI-lebrity Sightings (44:25) - Dan shares his favorite stories about CI clients in the news. ----- LINKS: Aubrey Bergauer | Run It Like A Business Book Bonuses CI to Eye | Bucking Trends with Disciplined Communication Washington Post | The 20 best art museums in America Washington Post | The best small art museums in America Boston Globe | The Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts in 2024 Oregon Arts Watch | City announces $4 million+ in arts grants The Guardian | Small step or a giant leap? What AI means for the dance world Art Net | Hey Besties, Gen Z Marketing Scripts Have Infiltrated Museums Around the World  

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 organization accountable to its goals around representation, access, and equity, from a conversation recorded earlier this year between CI’s VP, Managing Director Christopher Williams and Canton Symphony Orchestra’s Rachel Hagemeier. Rachel discusses the Symphony’s podcast, Orchestrating Change, and the learnings and organizational shifts that have come out of those interviews, as well as the Symphony’s evolving model for community connection. CI to Eye Interview (1:30) - CI’s Christopher Williams sits down with the Canton Symphony Orchestra’s Rachel Hagemeier to help listeners understand how to hold their organizations accountable to their mission and goals around representation, access, and equity. CI-Lebrity Sightings (16:10) - Dan shares his favorite news stories about CI clients. ----- LINKS: Institute for Composer Diversity | 2023 Orchestra Repertoire Report Cleveland.com | ‘I can’t breathe’: Ohio authorities investigating death of man in Canton police custody Know Your Own Bone | Trust Trends for Cultural Entities at Mid-Year 2024 Know Your Own Bone | The Causes Likely Visitors Care About Most as We Enter the Election Cycle Gothamist | After 19 years, a docent at the Rubin Museum says goodbye to his ‘home away from home’ Times of San Diego | San Diego Symphony Celebrates New Look Jacobs Music Center with Concert, ‘Day of Music’ BroadwayWorld | Steppenwolf, Goodman Theatre, and More Take Home Equity Jeff Awards

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 goals that matter to your organization’s decision-makers. With a few key tips, you’ll be able to show your boss and board members that investing in analytics is not only worthwhile, but actually critical for long-term success. CI to Eye Interview (2:30) - Dan sits down with Yosaif Cohain, CI’s VP of Analytics, to help listeners bridge the gap between the technical side of analytics and the high-level goals that matter to arts organizations’ decision-makers. CI-lebrity Sightings (23:10) - Dan shares his favorite news stories about CI clients.

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. --- 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