BLVE Consults

BLVE TRUE — BLVE Welcome to BLVE TRUE: Trauma, Resilience + Understanding Equity

Congratulations on 2 years! Kelsey McGrath we are honored to call you a part of our team. Here's to many more years together!

🎭 🗣 NOW HIRING 🗣 🎭

Our client, Teatro Vista, is seeking an Artistic Director. Check out the link below and help us spread the word!


https://www.blveconsults.com/teatrovista

Problem solving and strategizing aren’t usually associated with creativity, but they’re one and the same. Our industry is demanding we reimagine the power of our creativity and the change we can collectively vision and implement. What we do is needed here and now.

We talk more about this in our recent publication, “Cultural Triage.” Check it out at the link below!

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

Creativity is essential to problem solving. To open up to opportunity and inspiration, t0 have the courage to try something new. Creativity is connecting the dots in new ways, or introducing new dots into the puzzle. We are problem solvers. We are learners. We are collaborators, and our work requires us to consider solutions that have never been done before.

We talk more about this in our recent publication, “Cultural Triage.” Check it out at the link below!

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

We must first believe with a fierce, determined tenacity that we are worth saving. By holding to this steadfast, we grant ourselves the permission to think big because we know, deeply, that there is no other option. When we know our willingness to meet the moment is "whatever it takes," we enter into the realm of YES.

We talk more about this in our recent publication, “Cultural Triage.” Check it out at the link below!

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

In order to craft innovative solutions, we must first give ourselves permission to do so. To recognize the way we’ve come to know as no longer serving us and trusting that we can collectively strategize progress, is essential for high level change.

We’re in an urgent moment that demands creativity, action, and the reconsideration of “the way things have always been.”

We talk more about this in our recent publication, “Cultural Triage.” Check it out at the link below!

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

There is freedom in reconsidering our hierarchical arts structures as ecologies; understanding each facet of the work in relation to the whole. In this movement towards communal thinking, we have to ask ourselves about our willingness to change in service of a new way of doing things. Holistic thinking gives access and permission to next level collaboration.

We talk more about this in our recent publication, “Cultural Triage.” Check it out at the link below!

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

“Urgency” is a concept artists are all too familiar with.

Persistence. Determination. Importance.

The reality of the moment reflects this weight; it’s essential that we embrace that collective change needs to happen, and soon, to preserve our communities.

We talk more about this in our recent publication, “Cultural Triage.” Check it out at the link below!

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

We must change the ways things have always been done in order to progress. This means shifting attitudes, ideas, and the understanding of the way things are to how they could be. It is a choice to acknowledge one’s life cycle with understanding and joy. It is also a choice to disregard this as an uncomfortable conversation.

Being proactive and thoughtful around closing is a gift; growth only happens through intentional discomfort. Our hope is that we’re able to rally communal energy around ending well to move towards a more compassionate, equitable way of creating.

We talk more about this in our recent publication, “Cultural Triage.” Check it out at the link below!

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

Ending is an inevitable reality for so many organizations, especially in the current moment. There is a way to honor this and reflect on the work as a victory. There is a way to end mindfully and with grace. We encourage more organizations to consider this reality as change is necessary for progress and collective growth.

We talk more about this in our recent publication, “Cultural Triage.” Check it out at the link below!

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

From Boards to creative teams, how do we move from hierarchies to ecologies? Systems that honor individual strengths, in service of the common goal? We talk more about this in our recent publication, “Cultural Triage.” Check it out at the link below!

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

We want to build energy around audacious change.

This means funders, political leaders, press, donors, and service organizations need to become aware that they will have to work differently for the arts community to regenerate and thrive.

We talk about different ways to do this in our recent publication, “Cultural Triage.” Check it out at the link below!

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

In order to evolve into the next iteration of ourselves, we must collectively reimagine what our systems and structures look like. We must look inward and evaluate our own priorities to usher in a new way of doing things. We must have a willingness to release “how it’s always been done” to allow space for new ways of doing things that are equitable, compassionate, and innovative.

Our recent publication “Cultural Triage” ruminates on how these systems can be reimagined.

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

The ends of things deserve celebration. It is a myth that closing an organization is a shameful, regretful event. Like the ephemeral work so many arts organizations do, so too are their organizational lives. Let’s celebrate a lifespan as one does on closing night: a gathering of community, joy, and success. 🎉

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

Arts organizations have a natural life cycle; just like everything else in this world. Why not make the process of closure one of thoughtfulness and joy? In this time, change is inevitable. And it is OKAY to consider closure. We’re all figuring out a new strategy of being, all at the same time.

Our recent publication “Cultural Triage” discusses this and alternative structures that consider compassion and equitability. We ask how our arts organizations can evolve to meet the moment.

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

The current moment is calling on us to reimagine our community; our power structures and our organization. How can we do this in a way that is compassionate and effective? How do we lead the change for a more equitable creation process? Our recent publication, “Cultural Triage,” ponders just this as we collectively move into the next iteration of theater and art making.

https://www.blveconsults.com/cultural-triage

To our friends in the arts and culture sphere, foundations, organizations, municipalities and civic leaders:

As the non profit arts industry continues to suffer deeply during the pandemic, BLVE has been working on some real actions that our industry could begin to take to lead our own change, instead of awaiting the very real fallout from this pandemic. We are talking about what arts organizations can do, sure, but more importantly what foundations, service organizations, municipalities, advocates and donors can do to affect change.

This includes some terribly hard realities. We will continue to lose organizations. We need to embrace and honor that. We will need to find innovative and audacious organizational and cultural models for survival. We need to embrace them and start backing and funding them now.

We've put these ideas into a publication called Cultural Triage: Considerations for Funders and Performing Arts Leaders in a Time of Upheaval. We hope you will take some time to read and consider. We are available to talk, listen, learn and engage on all the topics in this document and look forward to your valuable ideas and suggestions.

Click the link to read more!

http://ow.ly/ixe550Bvdwl

Join us!
BLVE is seeking an experienced, freelance web designer and digital creator to help us reimagine our online presence! For more information, visit https://www.blveconsults.com/opportunities.

Any questions? Email [email protected]

We’re excited to hear from you!

Considering the complex implications and drastic changes over the last 6 months, we at BLVE are reenergized and reaffirmed in what we already know: black lives matter, people work hard to make the world a better place, and we’re right there to help.

Read more at the link below.

http://ow.ly/SIpv50BrH1r

Good morning! ✨

Let's save time and be thoughtful with our energy by AUTOMATING the things we're best at. Small investments add up and free up our lives to prioritize the things that mean the most to us!

http://ow.ly/97XN50y377O

Let's ring in the new year with connection, kindness, and empathy! Here are a few of Brian's thoughts on how to make this year, and this decade, the best yet. Cheers! 🎉

http://ow.ly/c1B650xRCPt

🔷 Lead Like an Artist 🔷

Brian considers how problem solving is a holistic, creative opportunity. With a shift in thinking or strategy and with an openness to redefinition, the potential for solutions expands.

http://ow.ly/9JYE50xvEyI

When building a team or a company, it's essential to broaden your scope of possibility. 🌎 Here, Brian talks about the processes and questions of this curation. What's missing? Who's missing? What skills can be taught? How can we collaborate to make this team the best it can be?

http://ow.ly/CmIR50xhok4

Let's start the week on an empowered note. ✨ Brian's latest 100 Words entry discusses the necessity of mindful curation with team building and surrounding yourself by people and projects that inspire growth!

http://ow.ly/U0L750wVEf7

"Do you believe in the potential of process?"​

We use processes everyday. We build them. We trust them. But sometimes, they stop working as well as they once did. Making time and space to implement a thoughtful process is necessary for growth. Here are a few of Brian's thoughts on processes and creation!

http://ow.ly/vDp650wbAVU

🔹BLVE Update🔹

Friends + colleagues,

Since I started BLVE last year, we have been very busy helping our clients. We've worked with Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence on a huge transition. We've helped Urban Theatre Company prepare for future growth. We've helped numerous producers get their events and shows on the stage, including the current running "Miracle" at the Royal George Theatre in Chicago. In addition. we've brought on our first client from Toronto, the innovative theatre company, Cue6.

All of that, our first employee (yay Kelsey!!), and so much more to come for 2020. To that end, we have refreshed and enhanced our website. We'd love for you to check out blveconsults.com. Also, I'll be doing more writing this year. Some short-form honest and direct thoughts about the work ahead. We call them 100 Words. I am looking forward to engaging with people on all these ideas.

Here's to a great future ahead!

Thanks for your support and friendship,

Brian

Founder + President,
blveconsults.com

At BLVE, we put thought into our mission and what matters the most to us.

We believe in our clients and the great work they do; we’re here to introduce fresh perspectives that ensures work is sustainable, human-focussed, and the best it can be.

Let's collaborate!
www.blveconsults.com