2019 Nominating Committee Interview Findings · interviews. As much as possible, we've let member...

2019 Nominating Committee Interview Findings

This report summarizes the themes that emerged from the 98 interviews of state arts agency executive directors and council chairs conducted by the NASAA Nominating Committee in May and June 2019. The Nominating Committee used a structured interview protocol to ensure consistent coverage of key topics with every member. In addition to informing nominations for the NASAA board of directors, each interview contained questions specifically designed to invite feedback about NASAA. The questions included:

• Have you used any NASAA services or information in the past year? If yes, how? Were yousatisfied with what you received? How so or how not?

• In your opinion, what are the most valuable things NASAA does?• Are there specific ways NASAA could be of assistance to your state level advocacy efforts?• Are there specific ways NASAA could help your agency advance diversity, equity and inclusion?• Do you have any other suggestions that you'd want to pass along?

This report synthesizes the results of a qualitative analysis conducted on notes recorded for all 98 interviews. As much as possible, we've let member voices speak for themselves. Except where noted in [brackets], all quotations are verbatim responses.

Topline findings are presented here for use by the Planning & Budget Committee as it develops NASAA's fiscal year 2020 action plan. Data tables containing all interview comments have been cataloged and supplied to staff for their use in action plan implementation and ongoing performance improvement.

* Methodology note: If council chairs were not available, the agency’s vice-chair or another designated council memberwas interviewed instead. This made the process as broadly inclusive as possible.


Member Voices

98 state arts agency executive directors and council chairs from 53 state and jurisdictional agencies participated in interviews during summer 2019.

This word cloud highlights the terms that most commonly occurred in answers to interview questions about NASAA programs and planning. The larger the word, the more often it was used.

PLACEHOLDER


Most Valued and Used Services

Most member states reported using NASAA in the past year. The most popular NASAA services were research and information, convenings and networking opportunities with peers, federal and state advocacy efforts, NASAA communications, and consultation and customized support to members on specific issue areas. Responsiveness and prompt turnaround by NASAA staff leading to positive member engagement surfaced as another subtheme. Updates to the field and state-specific examples served as best practices for states facing similar issues. Providing reliable data generally is considered NASAA's most valuable service. Many members described the use of NASAA research to support state advocacy efforts and praised information that was made available on a detailed state-by-state basis. NASAA's federal advocacy in Congress on behalf of the National Endowment for the Arts also was emphasized. NASAA convenings and professional development offerings for state arts agencies are viewed as an important platform for exchange of best practices and an important way of connecting with a professional community. Both executive directors and chairs indicated the benefits of peer networking through convening. Compared with interviews conducted in 2018, in 2019 more chairs cited specific NASAA services they had used. This suggests some improvement in chair engagement with NASAA. However the portion of chairs saying they had not used NASAA (or deferring to staff on this question) remains higher than we would like.

98

65

44

32

24

16

12

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Research

Convening

Advocacy

Communications

Consultation/Customized Support

Responsiveness

Best Practices

Most Valued and Used Services


Representative comments about NASAA's most used and most valued services include:

Advocacy

• Without question, NASAA's advocacy efforts for SAAs [state arts agencies] and the NEA [National Endowment for the Arts] are critical.

• Extremely helpful assisting with navigating through budget cuts and learning about the do’s and don'ts of advocacy.

• We were helped by the briefing at the [U.S.] Capitol about the creative economy. • I know this is our advocacy group. • They have their finger on the pulse in the Congress and Executive branch… they maintain

those relationships with our allies in Congress. • NASAA’s advocacy seems to be at excellent caliber. The fact that the NEA sends $16M to [my

state’s arts] organizations matters. I couldn't make that up. What NASAA does to protect that money matters a lot.

Convenings

• The boot camp was instrumental for my beginning in this role.

• The whole staff attends the NASAA conference. It is our one professional development opportunity that all look forward to. Invaluable peer learning and focused sharing.

• I attended the leadership institute. You certainly can't replace the conversations and networking opportunities that arise when you see everyone face to face.

• The most valuable thing is to bring us together and learn from each other and network. The community aspect is the most important thing to me.

• I have attended 5 conferences over the years. Very helpful. I feel the peer connection is one of the most important elements of the conferences.

• Networking with the other states and other council Chairs has been extremely important. Attending the Leadership Institutes provides the opportunity to meet so many from across the U.S. Finding out what other states are doing and bringing this information back to our state.

Research

• Excellent information. • Data output, especially at the state level, is

always timely and put out in a manner that is usable.

• I dig into data, particularly as I prepare updates and testimony. I've been happy with what I am able to collect, particularly at a state level. The national statistics are helpful as a benchmark.

• I routinely use information around creative economy. The team use it and could not function without it.

• The NGA [National Governors Association] rural report was pertinent.

• Research and data on the field is so important. NASAA does an excellent scan of the state arts agency and national arts field.

• Information provided to state agencies has always been on point and continues to be on point.

• We have also used visualization maps. Helped us to make a case for the creative industries at our summit.

• I've used some of the salary and compensation data. Also, found helpful information regarding personnel and job classification.

• The fact that this information is digitally accessible makes it even more necessary.


There was a strong appreciation for communications and messaging from NASAA: general updates, advocacy alerts, one-pagers, the Notes newsletter and the website. Such communications offer a valuable national perspective. Members cited fruitful experiences with NASAA’s customized consultation on specific issues relating to strategic planning, program design and state advocacy. There were many comments expressing the NASAA staff’s overall professionalism and responsiveness. Members also described how they rely on NASAA as a source of guidance around best practices and new program ideas.

Responsiveness

• I appreciate the promptness and accuracy.

• I am pleased with the professionalism of the staff.

• Everyone [at NASAA] is so responsive.

• My request was welcomed and timely. NASAA staff is extraordinary.

• I appreciate getting prompt responses to questions.

• The support was quick, thorough and easy to get.

• I got immediate response with information and data.

• Most importantly, they are so approachable.

• It’s incredible to know that [they] are just a call/email away. And the experience will always be positive.

• I value NASAA staff’s availability and generosity.

• NASAA is the place to go to. The staff on the straight and narrow. Precise and dependable.

• Knowing how small the staff is I continue to be amazed at the services and information provided. This is one efficient machine!

• Staff is sooo available and accommodating.

• The knowledge of NASAA staff is the true resource.

Communications

• NASAA is great about sharing, being proactive and responsible in their message. Statements are measured and thoughtful, not reactionary; well planned and thought out.

• NASAA is a top-notch professional organization with many strengths, some of those include: communications and personal outreach.

• The messaging is politically neutral and consistently broad and inclusive.

• I have to pay great compliments to NASAA—it has a great website ….NASAA's site is much more valuable with all of its great information.

• I get behind on the NASAA news sometimes and end up at the website catching up. Federal updates get sent straight over to our newspaper editor.

• We include NASAA notes with council and encouraging staff to utilize those resources.

• NASAA Notes are also very helpful. We use info from Notes to educate public on the impact of the arts.

• I regularly read NASAA Notes. I am always pleased with the high quality of the materials I receive, the thoughtful communications.

• I get their emails and keep up to date that way.

• NASAA does a good job of communicating updates.

• Information on the website is valuable.


Consultation/Customized Support

• My favorite is their heat maps. They created one for us so fast that told the story of our accessibility efforts and initiatives.

• After the shootings in Las Vegas, we had some one-on-one dialogue. I feel very supported. • They helped us put together a survey on strategic planning. Helping us with discussions on

DEI and funding. • My staff regularly reaches out to NASAA whenever we grapple with a policy issue. • Hired NASAA to do data collection for strategic plan, because I knew no one could do it

better in terms of presentation of materials and willingness to incorporate us in discussions.

• [NASAA staff] has talked me through things for my legislature a number of times based on research and being able to testify accurately.

• NASAA provides support to states when they have emergencies. It is much appreciated.

Best Practices • NASAA is good at collecting best practices. • [My agency] team comes back with great ideas and best practices. • Our process is to reach out to NASAA to see if they have any other states dealing with

similar issues and their take on things. • We use some of the research/white papers to get caught up on issues or model projects. • I'll use [NASAA] when it comes to considering program development and

implementation, to reach out to see if they have examples or best practices from other states.

• Getting updates in the field on the things that are happening on a national level and state level is especially rewarding.

• I read most of the "white papers" on the website in order to learn about what is currently going on.

• We depend on NASAA for so much, including best practices. • The best practices that NASAA spotlights are an advocacy tool at heart. It shows their

ability to interconnect SAAs of different sizes, shapes, and focus. NASAA allows each state to be its own, very federalist in nature.


Improving State Level Advocacy Efforts There is a high level of awareness and appreciation for NASAA's unique advocacy role in protecting and growing federal resources for state arts agencies. Members regularly distribute Legislative Alerts and other information to their councils and constituents. NASAA's leadership in federal advocacy is especially important to state arts agencies. As one interviewee reported, “under Pam's leadership, we've seen a lot of high level advocacy and it's really important. It should continue.” When asked how NASAA could better assist state level advocacy efforts, members requested that NASAA continue to prioritize data that helps them make a fact based case for support. Some state arts agencies said they would welcome best practices showcasing examples of challenges and successes in states. They also underscored the importance of strengthening state networks and offering guidance for states without an advocacy organization. Members want NASAA to help with crafting bipartisan messages that resonate, especially with conservatives.

Data for Case Making

• The data related to arts impact to tell the story of why the arts matter in our state and the world.

• When we go through funding cuts the data from NASAA was always used as a filter on how to present the agency to our state.

• The data [NASAA] pulled for me was incredibly helpful during session. As this is my first year their assistance helped me with developing a better case for funding.

• Many members of the SAA team rave about research that fuels advocacy.

• Research and providing data that I can use with my legislature. Their research and data become tools for advocacy.

• We use [NASAA] for economic impact data and making it appealing for legislators.

• We use a lot of their reports and use them for board and legislature presentations.

Advocacy Best Practices

• Continue to provide information on best practices. Very valuable to hear what is working for others [advocates].

• Can NASAA provide a printed resource on their website using examples of bills/legislation proposed and maybe passed in other states?

• NASAA is good at collecting best practices. We would benefit from a survey of other advocacy efforts within state agencies.

• Showcasing successes of other states, all the way down to the policy level would be helpful.

• NASAA could talk about best practices. A train the trainer model.

• Facilitate conversations and information gathering about how other states address advocacy.

• Continue to provide us with best practices. • Share information about what other states

are doing [in the advocacy arena].


Specific Legislative Support

• The legislative information is so valuable. • We have a brand-new legislative arts caucus, so I'd like to encourage that. It helps

to inform and educate—not lobby of course. Any inroads to state legislatures is a positive.

• We have a new Governor and any help on that front is appreciated. • If there are people on NASAA's board who are well respected and are

conservative, who could speak to are legislators, it may be helpful. • I'm really interested in the exact advocacy strategies being used. I'd like to learn

more about these processes, including what legislators or members of the collective caucus are contacted and why to help make connections that may come back to the state level.

• Any help with our new Governor is welcome.

Strengthen State Networks

• NASAA has not done much work around advocacy organizations, and how they are nurtured. That has been a bit on the back burner.

• Institute a network for state arts advocates.

• Provide resources on ways to engage council and other advocacy messengers.

• Facilitate conversations and information gathering about how other states address advocacy.

• How can states without advocacy organizations be supported and connected?

• Emulate WESTAF model of hiring lobbyists for the states.

• Any grassroots advocacy training sessions that might be available at the state level could be good.

Messages and Rationale

• I share [NASAA’s] information with our advocacy organization, so keep providing that information. I think their messaging is stronger than AFTA [Americans for the Arts].

• Support tailoring messages to conservatives.

• Continue to send messaging to unite field of arts and culture, at federal and state level.

• How can NASAA help us in crafting depolarized messages that cut across political divides?

• Emphasize the telling of stories. • Help states improve communication and

play a leadership role in advocacy efforts. • Providing new ways of speaking to our

constituents. • Hone messaging to communicate with

conservative authorizers.


Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion As part of NASAA's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), interviews took the opportunity to ask every state how NASAA can strengthen DEI work at the state level. Most members report benefiting from NASAA's DEI resources and training provided through research tools, conferences and consultations. State arts agencies are actively working on DEI initiatives and making efforts to recruit a more diverse staff. The equity in the panel process and customized demonstration of grants data received many kudos, as did NASAA's “strong leadership role” in DEI-related work. When asked about specific ways NASAA could help their agency in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, members voiced their need for best practices, additional training and continuing DEI discussions at NASAA convenings. Some members also noted that it's a continuing challenge to diversify their council appointments and work with new governors. Member comments include:

Training & Convening

• Continue to include DEI topic in sessions at convenings and [when] compiling research.

• NASAA could provide professional development in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Specifically, training materials and speakers for workshops—resources to help us move this forward in [our state] with council and constituents.

• A roundtable with other states that share my demographics would be helpful.

• We need to get more of our staff out there for professional training.

• I would appreciate connections with other localities that appear limited and still manage to be inclusive.

• Provide information or a list of good DEI facilitators for workshops and conferences.

• Developing a working group as part of strategic planning process.

• Guidance for professional development and mentoring.

• Some creative seminars on strategic planning for these rural communities and arts organizations and bring into that environment the message of DEI might be helpful.

• NASAA could continue to offer advice, potentially help with a smaller convening or workshop.

• Help with DEI-related professional development.

Best Practices

• We need to see the best practices and how other states are succeeding with diversity and equity issues.

• We would like to have examples of success stories from other states.

• Successful examples from other states to create best practices.

• Understanding and identifying [DEI] best practices.

• I would be interested in seeing impact studies results of arts orgs addressing DEI.

• Provide best practices from the field. • Share initiatives in other states to

address DEI. • It would be helpful to see language,

common messaging and statements from other agencies.

• Hearing the stories of how the other states are handling this initiative.


Multiple Kinds of Diversity

• Please address more regarding DEI in therural communities involving younger creativeentrepreneurs and artists.

• We have been very successful at it [DEI]. Notonly in relation to the board but in regards toservices offered. Ethnic, racial, experienceand geographic diversity is very important inour state.

• It’s about addressing the lower-incomeeconomic areas. In addition, the whole ruralpicture, the diversity sector seems to bemaking moves on the Native American front.

• Help us find new ways to connect with morelow-income constituents (through funding,planning, etc.).

• Looking at implementing DEI as internallyand externally focused.

Appointments to SAA Councils Can Lack Diversity

• [My state must] work with the newGovernor as he appoints boardmembers on [improving his]understanding the importance ofDEI.

• SAA has limited influence overcouncil appointments.

• Is there a way to inform thegovernor about how other statesare looking at these efforts?

• Governor appointments have beenkey to diversifying our board.Foresees more diverseorganizations applying to the councilfor funding.

Leadership for DEI

• The lens on the [DEI] language that's being used needs to be widened a little bit. Many of usare dealing with political environments that can't always adhere to the current languagestructured around this conversation. We don't say nor think that it dismisses or devalues ourmission of DEI when you use language that's not the norm. There are legislators who oftenlook for specific language which triggers a certain response.

• The focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion is important—really great. We can learn from itbut in [our state] and the other territories—we've been practicing this forever.

• I am not that familiar with NASAA's work around DEI… not aware of NASAA's DEI work andhaven’t heard about the POC [People of Color] Affinity Group.

• You [NASAA] have already done this work in a huge way, you've helped us! We rely on yourinformation. Five-star information.

• NASAA has enlightened the field about these things.• NASAA will be using its position as a thought leader to move us all ahead.• I am proud of the job NASAA is doing. When I attended the conference I noticed that it was a

more diverse group than many other organizations I belong to. I believe they set a goodexample focus.

• Keep doing what you are doing.• DEI at NASAA is noteworthy.


Additional Comments, Cautions and Calls for Improvement

Overall, state arts agencies feel confident in NASAA’s direction and think the organization is doing a great job in supporting them. Members appreciate NASAA's communications, member services, visits, calls and counsel. Members also applauded NASAA's collaboration with the National Governors Association and the National Endowment for the Arts in producing a rural action guide.

Some interviewees expressed concerns or offered specific observations about how NASAA can improve its services. All of these critical recommendations were examined during construction of NASAA's 2020 action plan. Although these issues were not mentioned by multiple states and thus did not emerge as themes, they are included below because they offer important advice for action plan implementation.

Stay Mission Focused

• Stay focused on your core.Focus on who the membersare—the state arts agencies.Focus on the niche of who theSAAs are.

• There is a bit of concern aboutselling off your time to non-corepriorities.

• Please continue to keep theBudget and the Plan alignedand keeping our mission as atop priority.

• Identify those things thatNASAA does well and continueto make sure they are wellresourced and an integral partof NASAA's plan.

• Please keep the needs of theState Arts Agencies your toppriority.

• Exercise your mission and berobust enough to know you canmeet it.

• Maintain a priority on servicessuch as field and data analysis.

• NASAA should NOT reinvent thewheel as it applies to theCultural Vitality Index thatWESTAF provides.

• Create more fundingopportunities for territories,spread word that territories arepart of the USA.

Service Requests

• Provide board and committee meetingreports to keep EDs abreast [of what NASAAis doing]. Engage board with members.

• I think that NASAA needs to do less talking toourselves, and focus on bringing in others.We are missing the chance to show how thearts can add value to their work. Some of thatis starting to happen but we are way behind. Iwant more.

• I would like to invite NASAA to our state andhave more opportunity to meet and involvewith NASAA staff.

• I think you send out way too manynewsletters and it's with small font. It comestoo often.

• Continue to ensure that all commissionersare connected and receive information fromNASAA.

• Amplify NASAA's social media—more use ofTwitter and join Instagram.

• Continue to keep our eye on [arts] roles incombatting the opioid epidemic…. we shouldhave an interest in arts, too, as it concernscriminal justice reform.

• Keep watching the Washington scene andcome up with any new ideas—like you havebeen—about how we can use economicstatistics to convince our legislators that thearts are important.

• Some sort of plan for philanthropic givingwhich is outside of hitting up state/individualmemberships, so to include corporate andfoundation.


Rural Focus

• The NGA report that [NASAA] did was brilliant, beautiful—connecting real and authentic voices. Such a great way to make the information land.

• NASAA’s information is helpful for use with state senators and donors related to arts impact in rural areas.

• Just keep your focus on the small rural areas. They will not forget their heritage and their arts. Washington should not forget them.

• I see an emphasis on rural communities and rural issues and this is very important to [our state].

• I would also like to see more discussion in the listserv on various topics but in relation to rural communities.

• The rural prosperity work that was just done, all of that is critical to our work in the field.

• The focus on rural communities is especially beneficial.

Kudos/Keep Up the Good Work

• I am glad you exist. Your success will become our success. • I have formed lifelong friendships, and have been superbly supported during these politically

trying times. NASAA is a model of a service organization. Their work is never about the organization, but about their members. They are quiet, supportive, and truly great.

• NASAA does a great job, I am very impressed. There is an obvious love for the work. • I like the processes that NASAA goes through to engage people and the personal connection of

contacting people.

Cross-Sector Partnerships

• I like to see that NASAA is focusing on cross-sector partnerships, and I hope they continue to pursue that and put more resources toward it.

• I did not see any emphasis of collaboration between NASAA and other agencies in the Action Plan.

• Prioritize partnerships like the NGA rural research.

• Any way we can get inroads into the legislative community, through National Conference of State Legislatures and NGA?

• Collaboration with other agencies. • Continue to build NASAA's

relationship with National Governors Association and National Conference of State Legislatures.

Other Cautions

• NASAA doesn't connect well overall. It often feels more like a family reunion than a professional conference. I am frustrated by that.

• I hope NASAA is funded well-enough in addition to membership [dues]. • NASAA's strategic plan is so ambitious. I would just say we should proceed with caution. We

don't want to do so much or become so ambitious that we lose sight of our mission and we're unable to build capacity. We always want to do more as new ideas are placed on the table, but we should make sure we have the resources.

• Many of us are dealing with political environments that can't always adhere to the current language structured around [the DEI] conversation.

• There was a presentation at Portland that I thought was great and wanted to share with my board. It took about ten calls to get the presentation deck from NASAA. There was lots of runaround… It was very frustrating… Their personal services need improvement.


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