Charis welcomes author Alan Harrison in conversation with Out of Hand Theater founder, Ariel Fristoe for a discussion of Scene Change: Why Today's Nonprofit Arts Organizations Have to Stop Producing Art and Start Producing Impact. The night will include a short performance about Health Equity and a dynamic conversation about how nonprofit organizations like Out of Hand Theater are using art and social justice to create change! This event is co-sponsored by Out of Hand Theater. Out of Hand works at the intersection of art, social justice, and civic engagement. They use the tools of theater to advance racial and economic justice through programs that combine theater and film with information and conversation. They produce Equitable Dinners—city-wide conversations on racial equity over dinner, launched by short plays—and Shows in Homes addressing social justice issues. Through Creative Kids, they help close the opportunity gap for low-income students through free school programs.

Nonprofit arts organizations have to place nonprofit ahead of arts in order to thrive in these pre-post-pandemic days. Most currently don't. Scene change is a phrase tied to the arts when discussing a literal change from one scene in a play to another, eliciting a new time, place, and situation. Here, however, it refers to actions made at this pivotal moment within the entire sector, where the rules that went into play over half a century ago can no longer apply for the arts to serve their nonprofit purpose. That charitable purpose - to help those who need the help - cannot exist in an environment of privilege, exclusivity, and the subjective concept of excellence. Excellence does not put food on a hungry person's table, if they even have a table. In his brilliantly unpretentious, snarky, and hilarious style, Alan Harrison pulls no punches. He identifies and addresses elitism, defines and defuses toxicity, and provides outlines for success, including a hopeful prediction for the future. This book also provides context for the pinball journeys of a 30-year adventure, leading nonprofit arts organizations in America - warts and all.

Alan Harrison is a writer, father, performer, consultant, nonprofit expert, recovering artist, and the author of the soon-to-be-best-seller “Scene Change.” For 30 years, he has led, produced, directed, promoted, raised money for, starred and failed in over 300 theatrical productions on and Off-Broadway and at prestigious (and not so prestigious) nonprofit arts organizations across the country, including the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. He’s also a two-time “Jeopardy!” champion so, you know, there’s that. The arts invoke passion (mostly from artists), but nonprofit arts are only successful when they result in measurably positive change among those that need it most. When a nonprofit’s donors are also its recipients, then its mission devolves into meaningless puffery, flapdoodle, and codswallop.

Ariel Fristoe is the founder and Artistic Director of Out of Hand Theater, winner of The New York Times Best Theater of 2020 and the Governor’s Award in the Arts and Humanities 2021. Ariel is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta, Regional Leadership Institute and Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta, and a LINK Trip delegate. The AJC named her an Everyday Hero in 2022, and Georgia Trend named her one of Georgia’s 500 Most Influential Leaders in 2023. She teaches Arts Management at Emory.

The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate on crowdcast or via our website: www.chariscircle.org/donate or in person the night of the event.

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Scene Change: Alan Harrison in conversation with Ariel Fristoe