Abstract:
Those working in cultural organizations routinely collaborate with an extensive
array of community partners. "We already collaborate, what more do they want
from us?" is a common lament from those who feel they are being pressured into
collaboration by funders without guiding models. Meanwhile the landscape is
shifting dramatically, as captured in a recent James Irvine Foundation Working
Paper (2006):
There is now a serious imbalance: the current level of public
participation and financial support is not sufficient for what the
nonprofit arts sector needs to survive. As a result, increasing
numbers of organizations are facing significant financial hardship . . .
Inaction or "business as usual" is not a viable option. (pp. 5 & 6)
The focus of this piece is to share the experience of CEPA Gallery, Just Buffalo
Literary Center, and Big Orbit Gallery/Sound Lab (1) which have just completed a
three-year Administrative Collaboration pilot project, supported in large part by
The John R. Oishei Foundation. This article is intended to provide information
for culture workers and others interested in considering administrative
collaboration.