(Ismail
Mohamed)
Ismail Mohamed shares tips and advice on
building new audiences and a support base. (Review by Pauline Dalais)
At the recent Witness Hilton Arts Festival Director
of the National Arts Festival, Ismail Mahomed, discussed the biggest challenges
in the Arts sector.
Building on his many years of experience
which included his work as a senior cultural specialist at the United States
Embassy, director of the Witbank Civic Theatre and director of the Creative
Arts Workshops, he provided a highly informative hour of advice.
A point that made most sense to me was his
comment that the boardroom stifles the arts. Your location for meetings and
networking is important for what you want to set your ideas on. His advice is
not to have meetings with artists in a boardroom – that is not their space. Artists
work best in creative places.
In building new audiences and a support
base, his advice was to “identify your audiences” and find the right niche
market. When pitching for funding, try not to use the words “sponsor, grant”
etc.
He uses the term “gatekeepers” often –
referring to those individuals who can make or break an arts organisation’s way
forward. We have to work at how we identify who the gatekeeper is and work
through them. What is the personality of the organisation and of the
individuals working within the organisation? They have to feel part of the
team, as if it’s their vision as well. Engage in partnerships and in each other’s
mindspaces.
At what distance do you keep your allies?
Go to their websites or phone and speak to their contact person. Begin to
understand the trust levels ie how much information to divulge. The more you
engage, the levels of trust increase. Look for something which breaks the
barriers. Look for common ground between you and the person.
Be transparent in your ideas and thoughts
and engage the people you work with. Allow them behind the scenes into what you
are thinking.
Create a quirkiness about your organisation
otherwise it has a danger of sliding into the mundane.
Thank you, Ismail, I left your presentation
feeling better equipped to take arms on the corporate support battlefield! –
Pauline Dalais
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