According to the February 12, 2009 Chronicle of Philanthropy, as a response to the economic crisis, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, "has started a $500,000 program designed to help struggling arts groups by providing them with free consulting and emergency planning advice."
The Center plans to provide "confidential counseling in how to raise money, build more effective boards, and improve budgeting and marketing during a troubled economy... The team of consultants will consist of Mr. Kaiser (the CEO) and the heads of the Center's development and fund-raising, marketing, finance, information-technology, and education departments. These officials will provide assistance through e-mail messages, phone calls and visits to organizations. Through their Web site, the Center will also be soliciting other senior arts managers from across the country to volunteer as mentors for troubled arts groups."
Two donors have provided the $500,000 this will cost.
Well, how beneficent of the Kennedy Center? I mean really, can the local mom and pop shop ever replicate the lessons that the very big and well financed Kennedy Center has to offer? I guess the answer is that the Kennedy Center thinks so.
And does the use of the Center's "people" really cost $500,000 over an 18 month period? I guess the answer is that the Kennedy Center thinks so.
And what about all those local management support centers and volunteer support groups who have been laboring over the many years to provide similar support? I guess we will have to wait and see what the Kennedy Center knows that these folks don't know. And maybe that will be something -- at least $500,000 worth....