In The News

Subsequent revised editions in 1990 and 1993 (ACA Books), 1985, 1990 & 1993

James Abruzzo’s Jobs in Arts Management remains the only book that describes all of the management positions in each of the arts genres and prepares students and professionals for careers in the management of the sector. James continues to be published widely; his articles on arts management, nonprofit compensation, governance and business structures, the role of the private and public sectors in the arts and related topics have appeared in International Arts Manager, ArtsManagement.Net, Curator Magazine and other industry publications. He also originated the Cultural Index, a survey of the measurement of the confidence of cultural leaders in New York, Chicago and Berlin, Germany published semi-annually in those cities. 

James spoke at a luncheon of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong about the future of the nonprofit sector in Hong Kong and Mainland China, comparing it with that of the United States and Europe. In the speech, he drew parallels between the leadership challenges that occurred in the nonprofit sectors in the United States and Europe and offered predictions about what is likely to occur in Hong Kong and China. He also offered some immediate steps that may address the inevitable growth of the sector in Hong Kong and China. The content of the talk is based on interviews with many nonprofit executives in Hong Kong over a period of eighteen months, a review of various research reports and government documents and draws upon his thirty years’ experience as an executive search consultant and commentator in the field. This essay is adapted from that speech. 

“Arts managers and arts leaders are two different animals… and arts institutions need both to excel. However, the unmet demand for arts leaders is greater today than at any other time. There are many reasons why the demand for leaders is growing and, unless some fundamental changes are made to encourage and develop the next generation, the gap will continue to increase and have a calamitous effect on the creativity and sustainability of arts institutions.”

The American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1970 that provides national advocacy, resources, services and networking opportunities to organizations dedicated to offering private support and services to people with disabilities. This industry of service providers to those with disabilities became solidified as its membership grew. Over the last 40 years, as the industry was influenced by and responded to the American with Disabilities Act, Workforce Investment Act, Rehabilitation Act and other social service reforms, namely in Medicaid and Medicare provisions, ANCOR served an increasingly important role. In April of 2008, in advance of a national conference of ANCOR members in New Orleans, DHR International and the CNPL conducted a survey of its CEOs. This paper highlights some of the key findings from that survey. 

James Abruzzo participated in The EU Consult Conference which was held in Rome from Friday, June 20th through Sunday, June 22nd, 2008. The leadership of the group should be congratulated for their wise choice of location – Rome was more exquisite than this correspondent has ever experienced – and the hospitality of Pasquale Pesce (conference host) and Dr. Franco Pavancello, President of John Cabot University, where the meetings convened, were outstanding.

Many of the most sought after museum director positions in the United States are unfilled, some for as long as a year. Over the last ten years, there has always been more than twenty different art museums without directors. And frequently, as was the case recently with the Milwaukee Museum of Art, its new director was recruited from a directorship at another art museum (the San Jose Museum of Art), leaving a vacancy there and the same number of openings. What are the causes of this phenomenon and what are the implications? 

James Abruzzo, executive vice president and managing director in Newark, N.J., for recruiter DHR International Inc., says demand is so high for nonprofit presidents, vice presidents and fund-raisers that his firm won’t accept every assignment. Openings are “exceeding the supply of people,” he says.