Now more than ever, artists and arts organizations must think beyond traditional funding to achieve long-term sustainability.

Instead of focusing solely on what they need, participants in this interactive session will be encouraged to recognize and leverage the resources they already have.

Attendees will explore strategies for diversifying revenue streams using an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach. By identifying the unique strengths of individuals, organizations, and communities—and learning how to mobilize them—participants will uncover creative ways to build a sustainable, diverse funding ecosystem.

This session goes beyond fundraising; it aims to transform perspectives and empower artists of the Great Plains to reclaim their agency in shaping a thriving creative future.

What is it? Essentials, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, is an introductory workshop focused on key capacity-building topics. This workshop uses asset mapping and community feedback to help organizations identify gaps and create actionable plans. Topics may include accessing grant funding, developing new revenue streams, building partnerships, improving community engagement, and more. Following the workshop, participants are invited to engage in an arts ecosystem conversation to discuss the needs and other resources M-AAA can provide through a future Engage program.

Who can attend? Arts and cultural organizations, museums, galleries, and organizations with arts education as part of their mission. Nonprofit organizations, fiscally sponsored organizations, and federally recognized tribes in or near Lincoln, Nebraska, can all register for this free event.

When is it happening? This session is held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., on March 27, 2025, at the LUX Center for the Arts in Lincoln, Nebraska.

About the Presenter
Becky Boesen is the Creative and Community Impact Specialist at Nebraska Community Foundation, where she works with colleagues and volunteers to inspire charitable giving and community growth. A seasoned theater artist, she co-founded BLIXT ARTS LAB, a nonprofit advancing arts research, production, and engagement. Becky has led playwriting programs at Nebraska Wesleyan University and is an award-winning playwright with nationally recognized works, including commissions for the Lied Center and Nebraska Historical Society. Her contributions to the arts and business leadership have earned her multiple Mayor’s Arts Awards, NEA grants, and recognition as a Chime Changemaker.

This program is held in partnership with the Nebraska Arts Council and the LUX Center for the Arts.

Learn more about Mid-America Arts Alliance’s capacity-building programs for nonprofit organizations.