The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations

The Arts, especially the performing arts are a passion of mine and my family. Kaiser's work as described in his book serves as a guide that can be generalized to challenges and opportunities facing the arts in America and elsewhere. Many join Boards unclear of their role or the role of the CEO. And many likely have little grasp of the funding cycles and sources of funds and deficits. Arts operate on a model so different from the for profit sector. Organizational management often fails in their fundamental roles of understanding their numbers and Boards often fail in their governance, such that turnarounds and failures to achieve turnarounds are all too common. The individual stories Kaiser shares and the group in aggregate serve as both good reading as well as a useful set of pointers that spell out the challenges and how he attacked them. As interesting as what was said, I was amused by what was left out and what lay between the lines on the human side. Also his own journey of self-discovery was clearly laid out. Those who criticize the book for lack of depth or being too personal miss the point. This is a 180 page or so personal narrative about one man's journey to the highest ranks of arts management. It is not a course, though he teaches one at the Kennedy Center. It presents a number of contexts and challenges and helps frame the work of arts management in a most readable and entertaining way. Anybody joining a non-profit board, especially in the arts would do well to read this book. Likewise anyone managing such organizations.

Hearing Michael Kaiser in person is what prompted me to explore this very interesting book. Kaiser has had remarkable success in nurturing several professional arts organizations to good fiscal and organizational success. I was part of a group of several hundred patrons and representatives of the arts to hear Mr. Kaiser interviewed by Maestro Michael Stern of the Kansas City Symphony. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect. It quickly became apparent that Kaiser is very smart, has an abundance of common sense accompanied by great instincts, and provides leadership that keeps people focused on the mission. The bulk of the interview was his "off-the-cuff" review of ten principles that have guided him in turning around struggling organizations. Also obvious, was that these ten principles apply not just to the arts but to many organizations, especially NPO's that rely on donors for their existence. Kaiser's principles are profoundly simple, yet powerful if diligently and faithfully applied. Immediately, I ordered copies of his book for key people on a number of NPO boards on which I serve. The principles are found right up front and the rest of the book illustrates them by recounting Kaiser's personal experiences of turnarounds. I highly recommend this book.

This is less of a "how-to" and more of a book that describes, in detail, Kaiser's experiences turning around major arts organizations despite his limited prior background in the field. You do learn lessons with him along the way, and certainly see the scope of challenges that can face an arts organization. But if you are looking for a handbook, or a foundation for arts management, you may want to look elsewhere.

A wonderful book for those who are interested in the arts. This book is well written and clear. It describes the author's work with the giants of the world of the arts. His methods are clear and intelligent. He analyzes the needs of the organization and creates a long term program to reach their goals.

As I work on helping to turn around two small performing arts non-profits, I keep referring to this book. It's a great place to start and points one in the right direction. I've passed it around to Board Members and others involved, some have purchased their own copies (my copy is highlighted and heavily sticky noted). Michael Kaiser has turned around some of the great performing arts organizations when they were down on their heals. Artists often don't know anything about operating a business, so they fail. Large or small organization, you will learn something from this book. You will need to supplement with other material, but begin here. Mr Kaiser is a businessman who loves the arts. If that's not who serves on your Board and Management, get rid of them and learn who should be on those Boards and Management. I highly recommend this book for your performing arts organization.

It is a well written book with incredible social implications. Kaiser is a man of risk and he takes this ability with him into all of the organizational crises. I, however, tired of the name calling, and the people with whom he came contact were helpful to him I suppose, but it certainly got very social. One thesis which did arise from the book is that most arts organizations which flourish do so with the help of governmental support, without which they would probably fail. Kaiser has a big personal ego and it helps him cope with what must have been a very traumatic existence during his battles of organizational survival. I recommend this book to anyone who is involved with an arts organization Board.

This book is beautifully written and very inspiring. Reading about the way Michael Kaiser turned around the five organizations described here was profoundly reassuring and calming... I found it a very relaxing and enjoyable read for this reason! The clarity of his vision and the steadfastness with which he pursued his goals is something every arts professional can learn from.

Great read on the problems and solutions while working in an artistic world. Very inspiring and gives the confidence to anyone who wants to move the world through art.

While Kaiser's examples are all from larger arts organizations, and mostly US-based, the general insights enormously helpful, no matter the size of the organization you're involved in.