If this school produced artists who "have appeared on Broadway and in feature films" and is so high profile, why could no one afford to save it? It was, obviously, mismanaged, but why don't schools that are in danger like this reach out to artists they've produced and celebrity connections (assuming that they have some, this is a very high profile school. . .) to be "saved?" Or did it deserve to go under because of its mismanagement?
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Jim Wilson/The New York Times In 1985, Jane Henry led Shukrani Brown, Hussain Walker and Malik Lewis in a violin class at the Harlem School of the Arts. |
It’s funny because I went to the article link before reading the rest of the post, and after reading the article my first question was the same thing. Where are all the established alumni they spoke about?? That clearly speaks to the problem most of the parents pointed out, that there is a disconnection between management and the community it is trying to serve. And although the article did say that there was a “tight-knit community of students, parents, and teachers” which would suggest the alumni would want to donate to a place they feel a strong connection to, the fact is no one wants to put their money in the hands of people they feel won’t handle it properly and put it to the best use for the organization.
ReplyDeleteNow does the Harlem School of the Arts deserve to go under because of mismanagement? I don’t think so. It serves a great purpose in the community, providing minority children the opportunity to engage in art they wouldn’t normally have the chance to, and it obviously makes an impact on the students’ lives because many of them pursue the arts professionally. Instead, fix the management (easier said than done right), address the disconnection, doing that can create more opportunities for fundraising. Like in the fundraising chapter of our book it stated “never ask for money from a stranger.” If all they relied on were private donors and grants, but now that they’re in trouble they decide they need input from the public, it’s not going to work because they don’t know you.
Anyway back to the question, schools in danger should definitely reach out to artists or celebrities they’ve produced to help save them. But they have to be ready to address what really got them into danger and have a plan to keep them from reverting back to the same problems in the future.
If this is a school that has produced so many artists and is an establishment that the community values, then it definitely does not deserve to go under despite the fact that it is mismanaged. It seems like mismanagement is not a new issue and many people (students, parents, teachers etc) are well aware of it. I wonder why there was no changes made to improve the situation? If indeed the problem is that the board is not connected (especially emotionally invested) in the community or the school, then why are they serving on the board? I can understand why, if they are potentially wealthy donors, they were asked to be on the board in the first place, but wouldn't someone say something about the mismanagement at some point, if it is a well known fact?
ReplyDeleteClearly there are issues that are way bigger than the financial one. Let's us not forget about the kids who benefit from the school. This might be their only access to arts education. If publicized right, this can be enough draw for new donors. Is it because no one cares? I don't think so. I wonder if there is some publication or community meeting that might reveal what the management has attempted before they took the drastic step of shutting it down "till further notice".
Let's also not forget the famous alumni, or students who have previously benefited from this school - why are they not helping? Is it because they don't want to/ aren't emotionally attached to/ grateful for their education from the school, or were they simple never asked? If they have graduated and gone on to Julliard, broadway etc, they aren't really so far from the school that they hadn't heard about it, right? I am very curious to know why they hadn't been tapped.
Frankly speaking, if they can find a few people who really care about the school, they can probably have a benefit concert/ reunion gala to raise money from people who are emotionally attached. On another hand, they can even ask for money from the community members, who might not have a million dollars to give away, but are willing to volunteer or give a few dollars (which will certainly add up!). As we discussed multiple times in class - never ask a stranger for money, they can start from the innermost ring. For instance, if they get a new board and/or management for the school of people who genuinely care about and believe in the school, they will be able to talk their friends and families into supporting the school. Going from one ring to an outer ring, this school can definitely be saved.
Looking at HSA's pretty website and reading about their 100 days campaign (http://www.harlemschoolofthearts.org/100dayscampaign.php), it seems like some people are really making an effort to save the school. The question is, are they targeting the right people? Also, might shutting HSA down with a 2 day notice be a final but very drastic and trying (and risky) effort to wow people and to try to get the pity points so people will hear about it (e.g. us, through NYT) and hopefully that would bring in some cash?
Also, on that page it says,
"It will also provide vital financial support needed by the new HSA leadership to implement their vision for a new, vibrant HSA. "
Does that mean there IS new HSA leadership now? Does that mean it will be managed efficiently in the future? I guess only time will tell...
After hearing from Paul Emerson of CityDance and learning how they managed to stay afloat after a $300,000 plug was pulled, I'm convinced this school is suffering from poor management. I've seen it before. Usually, someone gets too much power, abuses it, and becomes disconnected and unconcerned with those they are serving. The school can be saved but only under new leadership.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, alumni of such programs and schools typically want to help those who've helped them but not if there is poor leadership or poor relationships. Again, this school would need new management to gain outside support.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the most telling things about the article, and a reason why the community might not have stepped up more to help, was the bit about the board having no connection to the community. That, to me, says that since the organization (or at least the leaders within it) don't have many ties to the community, the community does not feel loyal to the HSA. Maybe it is not even that they don't feel loyal to it, because obviously community members are shocked, but maybe they don't feel very connected with it. Certainly some of that would change if the board was a part of the community.
ReplyDeleteAs far as not reaching out to high-profile alumni, I have got to think that they did that. Maybe those alumni don't have fond memories of the school because it was mismanaged then too. I think this idea of making sure to reach out to the right people is absolutely correct.
I don't think they deserve to go under, but maybe this is a much needed wake up call to this school or organizations like it. I would think they would want to revamp the board to include members of the community and better leaders.
It seems like the disconnect between board members, management and the community is the main cause for the organization's plummet. I'd be surprised if the board equally represented the community, multidisciplines, and PROACTIVE donors/contributors to the organization.
ReplyDeleteI'd hate to say that any arts organization DESERVES to go under because the organization is not comprised of just it's management and board members. This sounds like an excellent opportunity for community members to take the reigns and rebuild the organization after bankruptcy this year. Those who are invested will help for the reasons of why those alumni became who they are. Maybe then, alumni will have a positive connection with their past. Sounds like we're about to discover the cycle of an organization in the next few weeks of class :)
Once an org cannot sustain anymore (for various reasons), innovations or reinventions must occur before substitute organizations begin to take over.
I have no idea why the school didn't reach out to alumni for help. My former workplace has an Alvin Ailey dancer as an alumni and you had better believe he is in that place ever year talking up his experience and getting new donors to buy in.
ReplyDeleteThe mismanagement is tragic, but that doesn't mean that the organization deserved to go under. Sacking some key people involved? Maybe.
I don't know whether the school did or did not reach out to its established alumni. I bet they did since that's an obvious way to raise money especially in the dying situation. However, responsibility and obligation are two different things. Established artists starting their way of success at the school doesn't mean that they are obligated to take care of a mismanaged school, not even mentioning what if they were being disconnected or felt hopeless on school's future. It's not a blood relationship.
ReplyDeleteRaising money is important at this point, but not as important as reforming on management model. It seems critical to have a "superman" who are capable to take over the job to manage the school properly and strategically, not someone would clear a teach out of the school without letting her to say goodbye to her students.
I know it's hard to make a significant turn-over on the management level if money is in short or 0 in this case. However, the school can at least take an initiative to collaborate with the community, invite alumni and parents to work on diagnose what was wrong and what needed to change. The school has to finally present a strategic plan on how the school is going to spend that $1 million that they are trying to collect right now, or something giving a level of confidence that the money will not be spent for nothing!