Think and Act Like an Artist

We give lip-service to the high value of artists in our lives and we say we respect how they work and create. In my business and the that of my clients, artists are always an important, if not the most important reason for our existence.

I sometimes wonder if we’ve learned anything from the artists we say we so highly admire.

I’ve often heard performing arts presenters dismiss an artist because the artist didn’t create much new material in the previous six months. The sentiment is “You must not be very good because you didn’t produce enough new work. Approach us again when you have” Yet, how many presenters push themselves and risk with new directions? They play it safe but demand more from the artists they hire. (note: not all do this, but many do)

Then there are the organizations whose primary purpose is serving artists. Granted, they often have to deal with the bureaucracy of a larger institution or funders, but maybe they could “live dangerously” and do something so bold as to paint the office walls a different colour than beige and maybe put art on those walls? Who knows, with inspiration around them, perhaps they’d start making more creative decisions.

We need to adopt from artists a creative way of thinking in our organizations. We need to add “artistic” to the decision-making process. That’s how new things come along. It’s scary and it means risk.

With all the funding cuts to the arts in British Columbia I can see the fear creeping into the decision-making at arts organizations. I get it. They’re scared of making any missteps and dropping the basket with the couple of eggs in it.

Welcome to the world of the artist.

If you are running a business or non-profit in the arts sector, maybe it’s time to start thinking like an artist and demanding your organization take risks and act unconventionally, boldly and courageously.

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NOTE:
A good short blog post by Seth Godin ties in with this in regard to two types of approaches artists take. Which one are you? Boundary makers