Marketing

Center of Excellence

Engage audiences, visitors and communities. Innovate experience and expand earned revenue.

Center of Excellence

Fundraising

Cultivate contributed income relationships. Define the donor value proposition.

Center of Excellence

People

Build next generation leadership and culture. Recruit, retain high-performing staff.

Major Initiative Research

Commissioned Research

Audience Development & Loyalty

Jun 2026Connecting International Audiences
Spring 2025Best Practices for Building Customer Loyalty and Retention
Aug 2024Out-of-Sector Lessons for Building Customer Loyalty
Jun 2024Attracting and Retaining Audiences at Symphonic Orchestras
Feb 2024Audience Persona Template
Jan 2024Increasing the Attendance of Older Audiences
Jul 2023Young Adult Ticketing Programs

Brand, Communications & Campaigns

Ticketing, Pricing & Subscriptions

Visitor & Customer Experience

Dec 2025Enhancing On-site Engagement to Drive Visitor Spend
Nov 20258 Tactics to Activate a Space: From Design Tweaks to a Third Place
Nov 2025From a “Timed and Ticketed” to an All-day Destination
Aug 2025Enhancing the On-Site Visitor Experience
Jan 2025The Future of Live Events
Jun 2024Building a World-Class End-to-End Customer Experience

Education, Public Programs & Community Engagement

Earned Revenue & Venue Utilization

Jul 2026Venue Optimization: Aligning Mission, Quality & Financial Sustainability
Jun 2025Maximizing Rental Potential for Studio Spaces
Apr 2025Café Space Management
Nov 2024Performance Venue Rental Strategies
Feb 2024Benchmark of Commercial Programming
Mar 2023Venue Rental Pricing Benchmark

Digital Engagement & Content

Jun 2026Digital Opportunities in Arts and Culture
Jul 2024Streaming Platforms
Feb 2024Online Business Education for Creatives

Benchmarks & Surveys

Nov 2026Performing Arts Marketing BenchmarkNewBenchmark
Feb 20262025 Ticket and Subscriptions Sales and 2026 ForecastsPulse Survey
Oct 2025Email Communication PracticesPulse Survey
Aug 2025Customer Experience OptimizationPulse Survey
Jun 2025Marketing Spend and Return on InvestmentsPulse Survey
Apr 2025AI & Digital UsagePulse Survey
Feb 20252024 Sales & 2025 ProjectionsPulse Survey

Virtual Research Forums

All forums →

Coming up

Nov122026How Cross-Generational Insights Can Reshape Audience StrategiesPresented by Leila Ghorashi & Fernanda Barrera9:00–9:45 am PT · 12:00–12:45 pm ETRegister
Dec32026Key Insights from our Inaugural Marketing Benchmark for Performing ArtsPresented by Leila Ghorashi, Emilia González & Sofia Sica9:00–9:45 am PT · 12:00–12:45 pm ETRegister

Recordings & decks

May 20, 2026Creating an Arts and Culture Family Series Deck (PDF)
Apr 21, 2026Customer Journey Mapping
Nov 5, 2025Transforming from a Timed and Ticketed to an All-Day Destination
Oct 28, 2025The Experience Economy: An Opportunity for the Arts Deck (PDF)
Sep 30, 2025Strategies for Optimizing the Onsite Visitor Journey Deck (PDF)
Jul 23, 2025Converting Ad-hoc Ticket Buyers to Loyal Customers Deck (PDF)
May 20, 2025Strategies for Maximizing New Sources of Revenue Deck (PDF)
Apr 30, 2025Strategies for Maximizing New Sources of Revenue Deck (PDF)
Apr 22, 2025Strategies for Creating a Brilliant Day Out Deck (PDF)

Peer Networking Group

Marketing Directors

Marketing leaders from member organizations share challenges, trends and research. ABA facilitates; participants set the agenda.

Meets quarterly, Tuesdays at 9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET Facilitators Courtenay Casey & Fernanda Barrera

UpcomingDec 8, 2026Mar 9, 2027Jun 8, 2027

Fill out the interest form to join →

Major Initiative Research

Commissioned Research

Major Gifts & Donor Pipeline

Jul 2023Practices for Major Gift Efficiencies

Membership & Alumni Programs

Oct 2025Assessing the Need for Alumni Management Solutions in Music Education
Jan 2025Designing a Loyalty-Building Membership Model
Nov 2023Benchmark of Membership Programs

Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorship

Institutional, Grant & International Giving

Aug 2025Fundraising Strategies for Youth Organizations
Jul 2025Fundraising and Grant Landscape: EU Focus
Oct 2023Best Practices for “American Friends Of” Programs

Events, Galas & Cultivation

Dec 2025Supporting Film Festivals
May 2025Opening Night Events and Donor Cultivation
Sep 2024The Impact of Book Fairs
Nov 2023Practices for Planning an Anniversary Celebration
Jul 2023Galas & Fundraising Events

Stewardship, Reporting & Donor Operations

Benchmarks & Surveys

Jul 2025Multi-Year Fundraising & EndowmentsPulse Survey
May 2025Earned Revenue Sources: F&B and RentalsPulse Survey
Mar 2025Financial Health, Budgets & Operating CostsPulse Survey
Jan 2025Fundraising Revenues & ExpensesPulse Survey

Virtual Research Forums

All forums →

Recordings & decks

Sep 22, 2026Best Practices in Planned Giving Deck (PDF)
Feb 11, 2026Strategies to Strengthen Major Giving Deck (PDF)
Oct 28, 2025The Experience Economy: An Opportunity for the Arts Deck (PDF)

Peer Networking Group

Development Directors

Development leaders from member organizations share challenges, trends and research. ABA facilitates; participants set the agenda.

Meets quarterly, Tuesdays at 9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET Facilitators Clare Sherlog & Courtenay Casey

UpcomingJan 12, 2027Apr 13, 2027Jul 13, 2027

Fill out the interest form to join →

Major Initiative Research

October 2024The Compelling Employer: Attracting and Retaining Arts and Culture ProfessionalsRead →

Commissioned Research

Leadership, Culture & Engagement

May 2026Planning a Staff Retreat
Jul 2024Managing a Founding Leader Departure
Feb 2024Template for Employee Exit Interviews

Performance Management & Development

May 2025Enterprise Learning Management Systems
Aug 2023Lean Operations: A Literature Overview

Team & Organizational Structures

Compensation & Job Descriptions

Feb 2025Compensation Benchmark Analysis – 6 Example Roles
Dec 2024*Legal Counsel Job DescriptionPDF
Dec 2024*Corporate Council Job DescriptionPDF
Dec 2024*Compliance Officer Job DescriptionPDF
Dec 2024*Risk Officer Job DescriptionPDF

Virtual Research Forums

All forums →

Recordings & decks

Leadership & Career Development

Overview →

An interactive training series designed to help arts and culture leaders and professionals strengthen their managerial and professional skills. Covering a variety of topics, participants may register for individual sessions or the full series. Sessions are held live on Zoom and are open to professionals from all ABA member organizations.

ABA also can bring bespoke training sessions to your organization, delivered in person or virtually via Zoom. More information →

All levels

Understanding Your Communication Style
Driving Change: Adopting a Growth MindsetNew

Managers & above

Building Your Personal Operating Model
Coaching for Performance
Managing Difficult Conversations
Recognizing and Managing Biases
Norming Your Team Around Psychological Safety
Leading and Managing Through ChangeNew

Upcoming sessions

Sep9WedUnderstanding Your Communication Style1:00–3:00 pm ET · Live on ZoomRegister
Sep23WedBuilding Your Personal Operating Model1:00–3:00 pm ET · Live on ZoomRegister
Oct7WedCoaching for Performance1:00–3:00 pm ET · Live on ZoomRegister
Oct28WedManaging Difficult Conversations1:00–3:00 pm ET · Live on ZoomRegister
Nov4WedRecognizing and Managing Biases1:00–3:00 pm ET · Live on ZoomRegister
Nov18WedNorming Your Team Around Psychological Safety1:00–3:00 pm ET · Live on ZoomRegister
Dec9WedDriving Change: Adopting a Growth Mindset1:00–3:00 pm ET · Live on ZoomRegister
Dec16WedLeading and Managing Through Change1:00–3:00 pm ET · Live on ZoomRegister

Peer Networking Group

HR Directors

HR leaders from member organizations share challenges, trends and research. ABA facilitates; participants set the agenda.

Meets quarterly, Mondays at 11:00 am PT / 2:00 pm ET Facilitators Estlin Usher & Brynn Johnson

UpcomingFeb 8, 2027May 3, 2027Aug 2, 2027

Fill out the interest form to join →

Search all Centers of Excellence

Questions?

Contact your Member Advisor or info@advisoryarts.com.