Setting a Performing Arts Organization on a Clear Path Forward

A regional performing arts nonprofit had big ambitions and early visioning work underway, but needed a cohesive, actionable multiyear strategic plan to guide its next chapter. Yet many staff and board members had never been through a strategic planning process before. What they needed wasn’t just a plan—they needed a shared language, a framework, and the confidence to move forward together.

We began by creating the architecture for the planning process: clear language, simple structures, and a roadmap that made the work accessible and energizing for the entire organization. Working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, we moved through an iterative process to define priorities, goals, and strategies that honored the organization’s artistic legacy while grounding its future direction.

As input surfaced from staff and Board members, something important became clear—the mission itself needed to evolve. We facilitated the conversations and reflection necessary to reshape the mission in a way that honored the organization’s identity while aligning it with its aspirations.

With a refined mission and a clear strategic direction, we co-developed a detailed implementation plan, complete with tactics, ownership, milestones, and metrics. We also built internal and Board-facing dashboards that turned the strategy into something trackable and real. Throughout the journey, we ensured alignment by hosting all-staff sessions, engaging the Board, and keeping communication open and consistent.

The organization adopted a multiyear strategic plan—revised mission and all—positioning it to grow, adapt, and deepen its impact in the performing arts community for years to come.