Collaborations are an effective way to tap into new sources of revenue, gain access to new audiences and donors, benefit from other organizations' talents, and gain visibility in the community. However, partnerships frequently fail to produce the intended results, require more resources than expected, or seem to fizzle out without a clear cause. In some cases, alliances even become the tail that wags the dog, pulling an organization far from its mission. Creative Alliances offers systematic frameworks to guide your thinking about these challenging opportunities.

Faculty

• Walter W. Powell, Ph.D.

  Stanford University

• Jeannette Colyvas, Ph.D.

  Northwestern University

Seminar Director

• Jamey Stowell

  National Arts Strategies

How you will benefit

Creative Alliances goes beyond "how-to" workshops on partnerships and focuses on two critical questions: Under what circumstances are alliances appropriate for your mission, needs and environment? And, if undertaken, what form should these initiatives take and what factors will aid their success? By the end of the seminar, you will be able to:

• Analyze the benefits, costs and risks of strategic alliances and partnerships
• Distinguish among different types of strategic alliances and partnership opportunities
• Articulate why you would or would not choose to pursue various alliance possibilities
• Use frameworks provided in the course to enhance the quality of your decisions
• Apply the concepts and tools in the course to your own organization and circumstances

What to expect

This two-day seminar engages your team through case study analysis and class discussions that will help your team rethink your approach to partnerships. Interactive exercises will bring your team together to analyze your organization's network map and identify potential alliances. See a detailed description of the seminar sessions »

Who should attend

Creative Alliances is designed for your top program, management, and board leadership. We recommend a team of three or more people; large organizations should consider sending larger teams. In selecting your team, it will be helpful to include:

• Your senior-level program, management, and board leadership
• Senior-level development, outreach, program, and other staff with responsibility for external relationships
• Influential representatives of key stakeholder groups (for example, you may wish to invite leaders from other arts organizations with whom you are considering partnerships)

What past participants have to say

"By attending the Creative Alliance workshop as a team, we were challenged to think beyond the framework of community relationship building. The NAS faculty was absolutely fantastic! The Creative Alliance workshop was not your typical workshop. The faculty kept us engaged, inspired and energized throughout the two-day workshop.

Janet Barnett, Deputy Director
City of Alexandria - Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities

Apply Now »

Deadline May 21, 2010

July 22-23, 2010
Detroit

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Tuition

Through the support of our national funders, all participating organizations will receive a fellowship that covers the full tuition of $1250 for a team of up to five people.
Learn more »

Travel support

For teams residing outside of the Detroit metropolitan area, NAS will provide travel support of up to $600/person.

Travel assistance is reimbursed against actual expenses and can be used for train or air transportation; hotel; rental car; gas, tolls and parking and taxis. 

Contact us

To learn more about this seminar, contact Jamey Stowell, Creative Alliances seminar director.