Thrive! Arts Conference 2012
Agenda & Speaker List
9:30am – 10:30am
Registration / Continental Breakfast
10:30am – 11:45am
Plenary Session: Opening Remarks / Keynote Address
Keynote Speaker:
KEYNOTE SPEAKER UPDATE
Due to a death in the family, Ra Joy, our scheduled keynote speaker, will be unable to join us at the conference.
Please join us in wishing condolences to Ra and his family.
Nicholas Paleologos, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, will be delivering the keynote
address. Julie Ellen Prusinowski, Director of Programs and Services, will now be representing the Council on the
afternoon Funders Roundtable. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Mr. Paleologos has a distinguished career in public service, throughout which his primary focus has been the arts
and education. He is also a two-time Tony Award-winning producer with extensive experience in theater and film.
Nicholas is a cum laude graduate of Tufts University and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from
Harvard University. In 2007, he was the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from The Boston Conservatory.
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Breakout Session One
The World of Mobile Philanthropy
Presenter:
Aaron Smith (Senior Research Specialist, Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project)
Technology is increasingly relevant to Americans’ monetary contributions to the causes and organizations they
support. This session will explore the latest research into how the mobile/social revolution is changing the way
people learn about, interact with, and contribute to organizations and causes and how this new mode of
engagement offers opportunities to arts groups for reaching new donors under new circumstances as messages
spread virally through friend networks.
The Rise of Hyperlocal Media
Moderator:
Susan Wallner (Principal, PCK Media)
Panelists:
Fred Tuccillo (Regional Editor, Central Jersey Patch), Mike Shapiro (CEO & Publisher, The
Alternative Press); Debbie Galant (Founder/Writer, Baristanet)
The emergence of hyperlocal websites has led to the proliferation of a blend of “citizen journalists” and
established journalists creating content for a news model that is a unique blend of corporate owned, legacy
newspaper partners, and entrepreneurial sites. While these hyperlocal sites offer new and exciting opportunities
for cultural groups to get their message out, public relations professionals are finding their tried and true methods
don’t always apply. This panel discussion will explore the differences and similarities of these new media outlets
and how arts groups can work effectively with them to spread the word about what’s happening in New Jersey’s
arts scene.
How Advocacy Helps Your Bottom Line
Presenter:
April Williamson (Former Government Relations Manager, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance)
Supporting advocacy efforts locally, statewide and nationally financially benefits your organization. This session
will provide an overview of how organizational support, both in the form of grassroots and financial
commitments, is vital to ensuring your organization’s story can be effectively translated to stakeholders in a
manner that protects your interests as well as those of the arts community as a whole.
1:00pm – 2:15pm
Buffet Lunch
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Breakout Session Two
Strengthening Your Social Net
Presenters:
Mary Trudel and Rory MacPherson (Principals, Trudel/MacPherson)
Many arts leaders are working hard to get the most out of the latest digital communications tools and social
media. During this session we’ll review the findings from the national “How Strong is Your Social Net?” research
project and lead an interactive workshop designed to improve and integrate organizations’ communications
strategies and audience engagement plans. We’ll also discuss strategies for development and deployment using a
“practice framework” to connect a group’s communications and social media efforts to ticket sales, developing
fan networks, and building participation in live events.
Brand Evolution: From Mission to Marketing
Presenter:
Bill Gullan (Sr. VP of Business & Brand Strategy, Finch Brands)
Viewing the world through your patrons’ eyes is both critical and challenging. In this session we’ll delve into the
tools to help you sharpen your brand position – including consumer insights and customer segmentation. We’ll
also discuss strategies for adopting a comprehensive approach to aligning your mission, brand positioning,
programming, development, and marketing to ensure your “brand” adequately expresses the core values of your
organization.
Connecting with Your Community: How to Reach New Audiences in Your Own Backyard
Presenter:
Mitch Menchaca (Director of Local Arts Advancement, Americans for the Arts)
As our communities begin to look different due to the “new normal” of the economy, shifts in generations, and
changing demographics, arts groups across the country are asking the question, “How do we adapt to these
changes?” This session will explore ways organizations can engage with current audiences and build new ones
from within their local community. We’ll discuss how to identify local groups who are uninvolved with your
organization and develop relationships with community leaders and potential patrons. The focus will be on
programming strategies, engaging your community, unpacking participation, and other outreach initiatives in an
effort to create authentic connections with your organization.
3:30pm – 4:30pm
Breakout Session Three
Funders Roundtable
Moderator:
Nina Stack (President, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers)
Panelists:
Julie Ellen Prusinowski (Director of Programs and Services, New Jersey State Council on the Arts);
Laura Aden Packer (Arts Program Director, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation); Sarah Keh (Program
Officer, The Prudential Foundation)
Understanding a potential funder’s point-of-view is a critical step in creating a successful grant proposal and
fostering a strong partnership toward advancing a common goal. This panel discussion will give arts organizations
the opportunity to gain greater insight into the grant making process of a number of public and private foundation
funders, as well as better understand the objectives those funders wish to achieve through their various grant
programs.
Going Mobile: Websites vs. Apps, and What’s the Difference?
Presenter:
Mark Patten (Principal, Delphic Sage)
When planning a mobile presence for your nonprofit arts organization, one of the first considerations will likely be
to determine whether you want to create a mobile application for users to download (an app) or a mobile
website… or maybe both. Mobile websites and apps can look very similar at first-glance, and determining which is
best suited to your needs is not always easy. That decision will depend upon a number of factors including target
audience, available budget, intended purpose, and required features. This session will discuss the differences
between the two options and help guide your organization in the right direction.
Making Cultural Tourism Work for You
Presenter: Brian Tyrrell, Ph.D. (Assoc. Professor of Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies, Stockton College)
Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) are cornerstones of New Jersey’s tourism marketing initiatives and
vital resources for driving cultural tourism in the Garden State. For visitors these groups are like a key to the city,
providing an unbiased resource that can serve as a broker and encourage travelers to visit local cultural sites. In
this session we’ll review findings from the recent “2012 Tourism Promotion Survey” and examine insights into the
travel behavior of Northeast US residents. We’ll also discuss how your organization can more effectively partner
with your DMO and other local businesses to better promote your destination as a tourism product.
4:30pm – 5:30pm
“Beat the Traffic” Networking Reception
Stick around and beat the rush hour traffic while you mix and mingle with other arts leaders and meet the
conference speakers during our open bar, wine and cheese networking reception. We’ll even be raffling off a
door prize or two!
Thank you to our conference sponsors!
Thrive! Arts Conference 2012 Planning Committee:
Anne Sears, Westminster Choir College (Chair)
Ann Marie Miller, ArtPride New Jersey Foundation
Jim Atkinson, ArtPride New Jersey Foundation
Madeline Orton, ArtPride New Jersey Foundation
Allison Tratner, New Jersey State Council on the Arts
Steve Runk, Lewis Center for the Arts
Kate Devaney, South Jersey Cultural Alliance
Deb Cooperman, New Jersey Theatre Alliance
Kelly Ryman, George Street Playhouse
Sandy Josephson, Arts Access Program at The
Matheny Medical and Educational Center
Michael Gillespie, Montclair Art Museum
Alicia Grasso, Cape May Stage