Donna Backues, 3/9/2016

S.W.O.T- Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia Area

Philadelphia Arts Organization http://www.artsandbusinessphila.org

MISSION
The Arts + Business Council of Greater Philadelphia (ABC) strengthens our creative sector, including arts,
culture and for profit creative businesses, by engaging the business, legal and technology communities,
providing capacity-building services, and serving as a thought leader and a convener. ABC, with the
support of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, is uniquely positioned to actively connect
the creative sector with the business, legal and technology communities.

Strengths:
Located in the heart of Center City
Great Website
Affiliate of Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
o Has support in events and administration
o Can live between business and creativity
constituents are business, legal, technology and creative professionals
able to dive deeply into companies to engage their staff
able to provide rich professional development opportunities through our skillsbased volunteering and leadership programs
Can navigate a shifting world of technology and funding
Has a solid board with training program for current and future members of the board
Strong staff and connections to wealth and prestige
Taps into a felt need in both the for-profit and non-profit arts sectors
Strong and well-organized volunteer work force
o Due to high status can attract good volunteers
o Combines training and experience
o Volunteers come from various sectors law, arts & technology
Speaking program attracts leaders from diverse professions
57% of funding is corporate support

Weaknesses:
Connection to the average person possibly very weak not so grassroots (who is included in
meetings?)
Due to close ties with powerful city institutions supporting controversial artwork or protest art
might be compromised
Possibly few artists are even aware of services
Not so clear what the organization actually does on the website
Seems a bit intimidating

Opportunities:
Art Organizations will always need help legally, administratively and technologically

 Business will benefit from connections with the creative sector even if its something as simple
as hanging art in their space
People wanting to network would be attracted to the important connections ABC has with
wealthy and powerful people in Philadelphia
ABC could possibly really help starving artists

Threats:
Competition with more grass-roots organizations who really know the audience being served
Possibly can be seen as being too elitist and out of touch with the common person/artist
Might be difficult to know what the organization actually does leaving out the organizations or
artists who really need them
Could end up only serving the wealthy or more powerful, not necessarily the most talented

S.W.O.T. Americans for the Arts

National Arts Organization http://www.americansforthearts.org

MISSION
Our mission is to serve, advance, and lead the diverse networks of organizations and individuals who
cultivate, promote, sustain, and support the arts in America

Strengths

Meets a felt need across the country regarding education (art taken out of schools)
Because the vision is quite broad, covering the whole nation, there are plenty of choices of who
to serve and with whom to partner
Has powerful connections on a national scale with politicians and famous artists
Website is a hub of a great deal of resources for artists, art supporters and businesses
Focus on training leaders can grow good leadership from within and find good leadership
through program participation
Plenty of success stories recorded
Good practices recorded and awarded
Plenty of research to help argue for the arts

Weaknesses

Target audience is huge and spread out all over the US

Lacks a sense of community because partners over a huge area
Website is a bit confusing
Too much information hard to know what to choose
Not well-known

Opportunities

Research and reports gathered and promoted by America for the Arts regarding the benefits of
the arts can lead to more programs, participants and success
Possibly could have a big effect on bringing the next generation of school children more arts
The new ideas of right-brain thinking being more important for the nations future could
strengthen ABCs position and ability to provide services
People wanting to network would be attracted to the important connections America for the
Arts has with wealthy and powerful Americans

Threats

There are more and more art support organizations than ever before who are more local and
grassroots.
Might appear too political to some organizations
Might seem to big to bother trying to connect with by many organizations
The arts leaders who really need the support might have no idea America for the Arts exists

S.W.O.T. Taring Padi (Teeth of the Rice Plant)

Art Activist Organization in Indonesia http://www.taringpadi.com/?lang=en

MISSION
Taring Padi Cultural Institute seeks to foster art and culture by channeling the peoples desires and
needs and prioritizing openness, social prosperity, the sovereignty of the people, justice between
generations, democracy, the appreciation of human rights without dismissing responsibilities, gender
perspectives, the reformation of global relations and the preservation of a good environment.

Strengths

Very grass-roots and in touch with the average Indonesian

Rich history and fascinating story of how organization began out of crisis
National and International recognition
Works hard to meet felt needs
Combination of formally educated artists, professionals and self-taught artists
Cultural activism is combined with the arts
Recognizable style of art
Engages university students as well as local village people
College students in Indonesia have time, flexibility and energy
Collectivist view of art/collaboration is highly valued
Populist view of art/ rejects bourgeois ideas of the artist genius
Very flexible
Strong focus on community rather than the individual
Committed to deconstructing national symbols that weaken the abilities of the people
Simple organization and simple to understand

Website is in Indonesian and English

Strong working relationship with Just Seeds in the USA
Strong involvement in educating the public about political elections and policies
Located near their original location
Original location is now a national museum

Weaknesses

Not always very organized

Organization has long periods of little activity
Website not so great looking for an arts organization
Artwork quality isnt always good
Leadership is often too fluid
To be part of the collective, you cant really have a family. They meet late at night to hang out
and do artwork together.
Art education for children not so good - creativity not encouraged
The look of the woodcut posters is Taring Padis signature style but it hasnt changed since the
start.

Opportunities
Strong link with international activist organizations can grow wider
The new generation of youth in Indonesia are wanting to wipe out corruption. Taring Padis
message will be even stronger in the future
New government will be more supportive of efforts by Taring Padi
There will always be elections in the future to create posters for educating public
Being near universities means there will always be a steady flow of art students or students
interested in activism
Being located in a village means the group will always be in touch with the common person

Threats
Some government politicians will see them as a threat
Some artist groups might think their artwork is not very sophisticated there is a possibility of
people not understanding their purpose
Their website might not attract views
Some conservative Indonesians might misunderstand the collectives rebellious look or style
and might think they are dangerous.