Our latest ABA Executive Benchmark explored internal communications practices at arts and cultural organizations.

As we shift into the second half of the calendar year, we wanted to learn from arts and cultural leaders about the state of their current governing boards, the impact of their board fundraising and any potential plans to change governance practices to further the impact and performance of organizational trustees.

As organizations resume the full scale of their operations with ongoing economic and audience attendance pressures, the state of staff wellbeing and work-life balance has come back to the fore. Our latest Arts Executive Benchmark asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves about the current state staff morale and turnover rates, and adjoining HR policies and practices to support wellbeing and avoid the risks of burnout.

As hybrid work becomes more of a norm, questions about how to manage remote work policies have come to the fore, including which policies work best and what the actual impact is of remote work on staff engagement, retention, and productivity. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on how they are handling their workplace policies, especially around remote work and other flexible models, and what results those policies have yielded.

As the end of the year draws near, we want to understand how arts organizations have fared in terms of their overall staff retention and hiring practices over the last 12 months, as well as perceptions around talent, compensation policies, and workplace culture. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on overall impressions of the hiring landscape, staff composition, shifts in talent qualifications and requirements, and any new processes implemented to improve work environment and pay.

As many arts organizations look to the end of their season and upcoming fiscal year budgets, questions around the structure of governance boards, its various levels of trustees and members, and fundraising objectives have come to the fore. Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on their governing board's term durations and reappointments, written procedures and policies, giving requirements, and existing committee types in place.

Arts organizations are increasingly offering flexible work policies to staff, but some jobs are only able to be done in the office. Our latest Arts Executive Poll asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on how they are implementing digital strategies moving forward and their priorities for digital programming, monetization targets, resources, equity of flex policies, and new technologies.

In the last 18-months arts organizations have faced extreme challenges from the global health crisis to social and racial reckoning. Constituents have demanded change and accountability at all levels of the arts organization, especially in governing boards. Our latest Arts Executive Poll asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on the state of board policies and structures, recruitment priorities, and other initiatives to diversify governing boards.

With arts organizations navigating the new year and its unique challenges amidst the ongoing pandemic, our latest Arts Executive Poll asked arts leaders about top-of-mind priorities, from setting vaccine requirements in response to COVID-19 variants to benchmarking subscription and ticket sales this season.

As arts organizations safely reopen their doors this fall, arts leaders must leverage this unique moment of return. To help think forward to competing stakeholder demands in a post-pandemic environment, our recent Arts Executive Poll surveyed leaders at arts organizations to understand how they are strategizing for the long-term future.

With the start of September, arts organizations are re-centering themselves and launching new seasons once again. To provide a check-in during these beginning stages, our recent Arts Executive Poll surveyed leaders of arts organizations about the prevailing mood among staff as well as ways that leaders are keeping teams motivated amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic.

As arts organizations open their doors to audiences and visitors, they are simultaneously building back to a full-strength staff. Our recent Arts Executive poll surveyed leaders on the current size of their teams, their hiring plans, and the skills they most want to enhance on their staff.