Here are the articles that readers shared and referenced most in 2018.
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What a year for cultural organizations! Visitor-serving entities on the whole seemed to grasp the need to better engage new audiences and what this means for long-term solvency, with conversations about diversity and inclusion reaching the forefront.
This year organizations faced natural disasters and tragedy, but we also saw more women being appointed to major leadership roles. The hit movie Black Panther made us think harder about major issues facing museums, and Beyoncé filmed a major music video at the Louvre. We saw more organizations standing up for their missions in a torn political climate, and some hosting naturalization ceremonies for their community members.
I’m grateful that I (and my colleagues at IMPACTS) were able to share big data and market research to aid organizations in their missions to educate and inspire people this year.
Here are the ten most read and shared articles on Know Your Own Bone in 2018:
Millennials vs. Non-Millennials: Why They Do Not Visit Cultural Organizations (DATA)
This article shares the top reasons why those with interest in visiting cultural organizations do not attend, with that data cut for millennials and non-millennials.
Unintentional Collusion: An Accidental Business Reality Hurting Cultural Organizations
Unintentional collusion takes place when one organization makes a guess about the best way to do something and other organizations copy that guess… until that guess becomes “the way we do things.” The problem is that this “guess” may not be the most efficient or successful way to do things. Unintentional collusion is especially prevalent (and detrimental) in regard to admission pricing.
Cultural Organization Visitors Are More Likely To Vote (DATA)
If you’re seeking to win the hearts and minds of voters, cultural organizations are particularly target-rich environments. This topic was especially relevant this year amid the 2018 US mid-term election cycle, and it will be helpful information for organizations moving forward.
How Well Are Cultural Organizations Welcoming Racially Diverse Attendees? (DATA)
Spoiler alert: We have work to do. This article shines a light on how much and provides an overview on why it matters.
What Are The Most Important Membership Benefits? (DATA)
It’s not the tax deduction… The importance of membership programs is likely to be a prevalent theme in 2019. This article helps set the stage to understand how people view membership benefits. The top benefits might surprise you!
Three Dangerous Misunderstandings About Data Among Cultural Executives
A few baseline misunderstandings about data may be blocking cultural executives’ paths to institutional success. Beware of these traps!
Why Some Cultural Organizations Overestimate Success In Welcoming Diverse Visitors
US demographics are changing, so an organization welcoming more diverse audiences than it did a decade ago is an expectation, not necessarily an achievement. In charting their progress, many organizations are unaware of how they are manipulating their own numbers and overestimating success.
A Long Lead: The Decision-Making Timeframe Of Cultural Attendees (DATA)
Data indicate that the length of time before people intend to visit a cultural organization is long, and the time between buying a ticket and actually visiting is short. Here’s why this matters.
Do Free Museums Attract Lower Income Visitors? (DATA)
The short answer? No. Here are the numbers. Hold on to your hats, folks, because this article brings data to what is too often an emotional conversation that hurts the development of successful access programs for lower income visitors.
The Met’s Admission Price Will Not Hurt Accessibility – It May Help (DATA)
In 2018, the Metropolitan Museum of Art instigated a general admission fee for non-local audiences. It was a big deal, but will it impact who visits the Met? Data indicate that free admission has little to no correlation with how well museums – including the Met – welcome or satisfy income-qualified audiences.
Thank you!
Thank you for visiting, sharing, and referencing Know Your Own Bone! It is and continues to be a terrific honor to provide information for cultural executives, staff members, and students working hard for the cause of educating and inspiring the masses. I am eager to see what 2019 has in store for nonprofit, visitor-serving entities – and I will be here querying industry data and providing analysis to aid you in your missions.
Here’s to a great, data-driven, and productive 2019!
