Redefining Rural Arts Management
In arts administration, we often look to urban centers as the model for success. But what happens when we apply urban strategies to rural arts organizations? According to Dr. Elise Kiefer, co-author of Rural Arts Management, this approach can leave rural arts administrators feeling inadequate, with strategies that don’t fit their unique challenges.
In the latest episode of Arts Redefined, I sat down with Dr. Kiefer to explore the insights from her groundbreaking new book and dive deep into the realities of rural arts management. Dr. Kiefer shared her journey of moving from the suburbs of Baltimore and Washington, D.C., to rural Kentucky, where her previous experiences in nonprofit management didn’t seamlessly transfer. This led her to pursue a Ph.D. in arts administration, focusing on rural arts organizations, to uncover why some of her established methods weren’t working.
The Challenges of Rural Arts Management
One key takeaway from our conversation was how rural communities operate differently from urban centers, particularly regarding resource availability and fundraising. For example, Dr. Kiefer explained how standard urban fundraising practices, like selling candy bars for school programs, are counterproductive in a rural setting where everyone in the community is already selling the same item. The low population density makes such strategies impractical, and rural arts organizations must rethink how they engage their community.
"Trying to utilize the practices created and perpetuated by metropolitan areas is going to make the rural arts administrator feel inadequate persistently," Dr. Kiefer said. "They were never designed with the rural arts administrator in mind. So don't try to do that anymore."
Instead, Dr. Kiefer advocates for what she calls mission-driven fundraising. Rural arts organizations should find ways to raise funds that align with their mission and engage their community more meaningfully rather than relying on generic, outdated methods. This might mean thinking outside the box—changing venues, partnering with unexpected organizations, or creating new programs that reflect the unique cultural identity of the area.
Redefining the Role of Arts in Rural Communities
Dr. Kiefer also touched on the perception of the arts in rural areas. Too often, rural arts are pigeonholed into traditional crafts or folk art, while the community’s broader artistic expressions are overlooked. She emphasized that the arts in rural areas are not static but are growing and evolving, just like in urban spaces.
“Statistically speaking, arts interactions in rural spaces are going up while they’re going down in cities,” Dr. Kiefer said. “People in rural areas are connecting with the arts in new and diverse ways.”
However, for arts organizations in these areas to thrive, they must remain relevant to their communities. This means being more than just cultural hubs—they must actively engage in broader community issues and serve as a resource for everything from job readiness to fostering resilience and empathy. Dr. Kiefer encourages rural arts organizations to consider themselves integral parts of their community’s identity, contributing to its well-being.
Measuring Impact on Rural Arts
Measuring their impact is one of the most significant challenges for rural arts organizations. Dr. Kiefer and I discussed how traditional metrics—like audience numbers and ticket sales—often fail to capture the true value of arts in rural areas. Instead, arts organizations must focus on measuring outcomes like empathy, kindness, and resilience. These are harder to quantify but crucial in demonstrating the public value of the arts in rural communities.
As I shared with Dr. Kiefer, this is a critical part of my advocacy work. I’ll launch the Collaborative Arts Impact Initiative (CAII) this fall, a pilot project that equips nonprofit arts organizations with Customer Impact Management (CIM) software. This software will help rural arts organizations measure their real-time impact on public value metrics like creativity and community engagement. It will provide the data they need to secure more funding and resources.
Key Takeaways
If you’re involved in rural arts management, Dr. Kiefer’s message is clear: stop trying to fit urban strategies into rural contexts. Instead, develop approaches tailored to your community’s needs, focus on mission-driven fundraising, and redefine what it means to be an arts organization in a rural setting. Arts organizations in rural areas must embrace their role as community builders, fostering connections and enhancing the quality of life for their neighbors.
Dr. Kiefer said, “The biggest component for arts organizations succeeding is relevance. And that does mean being more than an arts organization. It means integrally being part of your community.”
For more insights, don’t miss the full episode of Arts Redefined, where we dive deeper into these critical topics. And be sure to check out Rural Arts Management, Dr. Kiefer’s new book, for practical strategies and research to help you thrive in rural arts administration.
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