Who’s Involved in the Work? Inside an Empowering Toolkit for Arts Nonprofits

Since its inception, the Onion Foundation has awarded multiple grants to more than 200 organizations offering arts programs to people in Maine. In each instance, we approach the decision-making process with certain questions in mind: Who’s involved in the work? Who are the people who show up to exhibitions and performances, open to learning about different art forms, cultural traditions, and ideas? Who are the artists invited to share their work with Maine audiences? Who are the people behind the scenes who work so hard to create these intersections for their communities?

Often, we will ask organizations these direct questions to help us understand not only who benefits from these programs but also whom the organizations are engaging to share their talent, stories, and beliefs. Answering these questions accurately can be tricky for our grantees as they infrequently query their audience members, participants, and artists about their identities. Doing so requires a clear purpose, respect for people’s time and privacy, and a carefully designed approach.

We were fortunate to partner with the experienced staff at the Data Innovation Project at the University of Southern Maine to consider these questions together. Our collective thinking resulted in the “Demographic Data Collection Toolkit for Arts and Culture Organizations,” a comprehensive guide for arts organizations that want to use a values-based approach to shape their programs.

The Value of Looking Inward

We’ve heard from many Maine arts and culture organizations that they aim to create welcoming spaces in which people, regardless of their identities, backgrounds, and abilities, feel comfortable. The Onion Foundation shares these values and goals, which shape our operations and our grantmaking. We’re gratified that organizations frequently cite that they create and offer programs “for everyone.”

But how do organizations know when they’re achieving these goals? How can they accurately track who they’re engaging? In what ways can they identify their gaps and successes and continually improve upon them?

The Data Innovation Project designed the toolkit to provide step-by-step guidance for developing and implementing a demographic data collection plan to answer these exact questions. It empowers organizations not only to gather concrete participation data but also to analyze that data to create more responsive and inclusive programming.

The guide helps nonprofits:

• Look inward at their own capacity, goals, and data sources to create mission-aligned data collection plans

• Understand and implement various data collection modalities, including the pros, cons, and resources needed for each

• Begin where they are, including by modifying existing tools and communications to begin this work

With interactive planning worksheets, data collection templates, and case studies, the toolkit equips organizations with technical guidance for implementing plans, highlights the importance of inclusive programming and securing informed consent, and provides advice for handling sensitive topics. It’s a unique resource for arts and culture organizations in Maine — one that will undoubtedly serve as the backbone of many nonprofits’ work going forward.

Who’s Here and Who’s Not

In an era in which relationships with communities require extra care and respect, we feel encouraged by our many colleagues who are working with intention and love as they design their programs. This toolkit is an invitation to center and expand that work and to pay close attention to who’s participating in programming — and, perhaps more importantly — who isn’t.

In this current moment, inclusivity is a necessity. It’s what brings us together around shared principles, and it’s what helps us open ourselves to new and different ways of thinking. The arts have always done that for makers and audiences alike. They offer us a bridge into new worlds, experiences, and perspectives. We’re heartened to see so many of our arts and culture grantees explore the expansive potential of inclusivity as they build and refine their programming and operations. We hope this toolkit, with its actionable strategies and clear commitment to empowering organizations, adds to these efforts.

Use the Demographic Data Collection Toolkit With Colleagues and Expand the Reach of Your Programs!