Organizational models suited for small towns
Like a pair of shoes, someone who wears a size 5 shouldn’t wander around in a size 12. You'll never gain speed and will often trip and fall because the shoes you are wearing were not meant for your feet. I want to emphasize an important point for those delivering the arts in smaller communities: Delivering the arts in a rural community should not be a mini version of how it's done in a major market. Here are seven organizational models that appear frequently in the research I have conducted. They are well-suited to communities with smaller populations. The shoes fit the feet.
1. The Collaborative
Overview
The Collaborative model reduces financial risk, bringing together non-profits and for-profits to fulfill the shared mission of providing arts to the community.
Implementation
In Keene, NH, Terra Nova Coffee Roaster stands as an excellent example. Owners Eliza and Jeff Murphy have transformed their roastery into a hub for arts and culture, supporting Nova Arts' concerts through a shared space model.
Impact
This collaborative model is not only a collective revenue approach but the tactics employed also share the weight of the expenses. Thanks to this, a community of about 20,000 people can support an authentic live music scene.
2. The Center
Overview
In towns and small cities, where most small cultural organizations lack the infrastructure to operate a facility, The Center steps in as an umbrella organization providing essential cultural infrastructure.
Implementation
Jackson, WY, boasts a center literally called, "The Center," supporting resident nonprofits with dedicated space and collaborative programming.
Impact
By centralizing resources, The Center provides smaller organizations the bandwidth to focus their energies on delivering their artistic work. These smaller nonprofits are unencumbered by the financial weight of facility maintenance and upkeep.
3. The Facilitator
Overview
Private arts focused foundations and arts councils established within communities serve as essential facilitators for arts activities, particularly in smaller locales with limited financial and human resources. These foundations and councils, often structured as nonprofits, play a crucial role in nurturing and promoting cultural endeavors where traditional avenues of support may be lacking.
Implementation
For instance, in Council Grove, KS, the Council Grove Arts Council stands as an example of such facilitation. Operating as an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, the Council Grove Arts Council spearheads a number of initiatives. From organizing a music festival that showcase local talent to offering a spectrum of arts courses catering to all ages and skill levels. Additionally, through initiatives like public mural projects and an annual youth musical production, the council ensures that the arts have a place in this small community.
Impact
Despite limited resources, the Council Grove Arts Council has managed to cultivate the arts in Council Grover. Through its concerted efforts, the council has succeeded in not only providing platforms for artistic expression but also in fostering a sense of community cohesion and pride.
4. The Enclave
Overview
In picturesque and remote landscapes, The Enclave model sees professional artists creating a refuge and artistic home in small communities.
Implementation
Appomattox, VA, hosts Wolfbane Productions, a theater company that has made the rural area its home. The synergy between the artists and the community, coupled with tourism ties, showcases the symbiotic relationship.
Impact
This model not only attracts audiences from outside the community but also fosters a lasting bond between the artists and the small town, emphasizing the value of a shared cultural experience.
5. The Educator
Overview
Geared toward youth development, The Educator model utilizes creative youth programs to impact both community development and the growth of its participants.
Implementation
Sitka Fine Arts Camp in Sitka, AK, and Riverzedge Arts in Woonsocket, RI, embody this model by providing youth with creative and workforce skills that contribute to both their personal development and the wider community.
Impact
Beyond fostering creative skills, these organizations contribute to community development, turning former symbols of decline, like campuses and neighborhoods, into thriving hubs of artistic and economic activity.
6. The Torchbearer
*This is an addition since original publication.
Overview
Across small towns and rural America, a vibrant network of organizations acts as custodians of our American cultural heritage. These torchbearers tirelessly work to preserve, celebrate, and perform the diverse art forms that weave the rich tapestry of our American identity. They preserve but also serve as a tourism destination.
Implementation
The Mississippi Delta, a cradle of American music, resonates with the soulful melodies of the blues. The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, Mississippi, stands as a tribute to the legendary bluesman and countless other artists. Further south, the Mississippi Blues Trail winds its way through the heart of the Delta, marking the sites where blues legends lived, performed, and recorded their music.
Impact
These torchbearer organizations represent just a handful of the countless institutions across the country that dedicate themselves to preserving and celebrating America's diverse artistic landscape. These organizations ensure that the rich tapestry of American art forms continues to resonate for years to come.
7. The Cultivator
*This is an addition since original publication.
Overview
In some small communities, the catalyst for artistic output isn’t an artist or an arts organization. Sometimes it is an economic development office or a community development corporation.
Implementation
In Woods County, OK, the Freedom West CDC is this model. During the 2008 financial crisis, they observed that communities that were weathering the moment best were those with strong arts communities that were serving as an economic catalyst for the wider communities they served. Through grant writing, establishing a downtown arts district, and revitalizing old buildings as arts spaces, the Freedom West CDC has established the town of Alva (the county seat) as an arts rich town.
Impact
These entities are not led by artists or arts administrators but understand the economic power and utility of the arts. The understand local, state and national bureaucracies and can leverage funding, initiatives, and incentives to drive their communities to utilize the arts as a tool for community development. This opens the door for artistic endeavors and bolsters local arts organizations.
Conclusion
In the vibrant tapestry of smaller communities, the delivery of arts isn't merely a scaled-down version of metropolitan approaches—it's an art form in itself. Each organizational model mentioned embodies a unique synergy with its environment, catering to the specific needs and dynamics of its community.
From the collaborative spirit fostering shared missions to the empowering embrace of cultural infrastructure, these models are testaments to the adaptability and creativity inherent in smaller community settings. The beauty lies not in replication but in innovation—crafting avenues that resonate deeply within the fabric of these towns and cities.
Whether it's the collective strength of partnerships showcased by Terra Nova Coffee Roaster or the nurturing spaces like "The Center" in Jackson, WY, each model underscores a crucial point: amplifying arts in smaller communities demands tailored approaches, embracing limitations as opportunities for inventive solutions.
The success stories—be it Council Grove Arts Council’s vibrant engagement or the symbiotic relationship between Wolfbane Productions and Appomattox, VA—highlight a profound truth: the arts are not just a cultural aspect but a vital bond weaving communities together.
Moreover, the Developer model's focus on youth not only cultivates creative prowess but also serves as a catalyst for community revitalization. Sitka Fine Arts Camp and Riverzedge Arts stand as beacons, illuminating the path toward a harmonious blend of personal growth and communal prosperity.
In delivering the arts to smaller communities, it's not about fitting into a predefined mold but about sculpting an organic, symbiotic relationship between artistic expression and community ethos. Each model is a brushstroke in a larger canvas, painting a narrative of resilience, innovation, and the transformative power of the arts in fostering vibrant, interconnected communities.