The global arts industry, and the arts leaders entrusted to connect us with the truth and beauty embodied in art, are under unprecedented, widespread attack. Last month, the Ukrainian conductor Yuriy Kerpatenko, who chose to remain and work in the Russian-occupied city of Kherson, declined to...
Nonprofit boards, and their executives, are being pummeled by events that can best be described as ethical dilemmas and which go beyond the legal issues outlined by Beth Gazley in “What Nonprofit Boards Need to Do to Protect the Public Interest” (October 26, 2022 issue...
Museum staffs are unionizing like wildfire – what's to be done about it, and by whom? Three recent articles detail the new round of unionization in the nation's art museums. The Columbus Museum of Art, Mass MOCA, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are the more recent. Still,...
The Brooklyn Museum, one of the world's great universal art museums (if it were in any other American city or world capital, it would be known as such), is deaccessioning some of its works of art. Backstory: the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) had,...
As originally seen in NJ.com on November 5, 2010. NEWARK — Without touching an instrument or playing a note, conductor Jacques Lacombe can achieve the musical sound he wants from the 60 people who are actually doing the work of making music. He does so using the same...
The Institute for Ethical Leadership presented the inaugural Certificate in Cultural and Ethnic Arts Leadership in June 2016. The program identified sixteen senior arts executives from underrepresented communities and provided instructions, mentorships and guidance to position them to CEO positions in major cultural and important...
The ‘Hamilton’- Pence incident provoked another overwrought Trumpian bluster; but it’s also a case study about the ability of theater to influence. It illuminates the difference between song lyrics and prose and, ultimately, the difference between propaganda and the power of art to change the world. "Hamilton"...
Ethical lens #12. We need an ethical code for the performing arts. We were always on the precipice, but we've now begun the deep descent on the slippery slope. Last week at Carnegie Hall Keith Jarrett interrupted his performance on three occasions with snide criticism...
Holland Carter in his Museums and Morals essay in the New York Times conflates two important ideas about arts and ethics. However, while I agree with both, by doing so he mitigates the importance of each: His first thesis; there are dangers when corporations sponsor arts organizations or...
The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs has announced a new program to create a pipeline for arts professionals from diverse populations to management positions: the Cultural and Ethnic Arts Leadership Certificate Program. This in response to a study that demonstrates what everyone in the industry recognizes: the...
The nonprofit sector benefits from a diligent press. In my experience as a compensation consultant to nonproift organizations, press inquiries are usually thoughtful, fact-based and an important peg in the process of insuring a healthy and ethical sector. While I found this Wounded Warrior Project...
Forget that Bill Cosby is accused of so many egregious, and illegal acts. It's almost beside the point of this story. This is part of the parable about The Smithsonian yet again at sea, lost among the public relations turbulence without an ethical compass to...
Three Nassau Community College trustees who voted for former Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray as the school’s $151,000 a year interim general counsel had donated a total of nearly $10,000 to her previous political campaigns, state campaign finance records show. Trustees Anthony Cornachio, Edward Powers and John...
I know no other entity, for profit, nonprofit, governmental, or religious, that better personifies the combination of great business, great art, sustainability, strong values and good spirit than the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. I was privileged to be part of the team of great dancers,...
The WSJ commentary raises an important issue about art, politics and the nature of censorship in the arts. But whether it is Mr. Gergiev conducting at the Met or the prohibition of performing Wagner’s music in Israel or cancelling a Mozart opera in Berlin because...
Financial companies rely on the their trustworthiness and transparency – if their ratings can't be trusted, whose can? In fact, McGraw Hill Financial is very proud of its values- here is their statement of core values: “...
There are similarities between the financial institutions that are too big to fail and the Red Cross. After almost two decades of scandals, weak or unethical leadership, bad press and activities harmful to human life (its infamous blood bank scandals) the Red Cross remains one...
UK blogger and arts critic claims that arts organizations must do their part to prevent global warming by not accepting oil company sponsorships. I heartily disagree: see below for my commentary that appears following the article in the electronic version of the Guardian. Here is the...
In the November 12, 2014 edition of the International New York Times, the columnist David Brooks reviewed the economic progress made by Soviet bloc countries since the fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago. The progress is uneven. There are reasons why some countries...
“Whether blameworthy or not, the use of the cloak of social responsibility, and the nonsense spoken in its name by influential and prestigious businessmen, does clearly harm the foundations of a free society. I have been impressed time and again by the schizophrenic character of...
U.S. corporations invest in compliance training and ethics programs to create a culture that prevents unethical behaviors; acts by employees that could result in severe penalties and legal actions. Strong ethical cultures lead to a highly motivated workforce, a stronger brand and long-term ROI. But...
