Chaos Leadership

“Chaos Leadership” is a phrase Jane Marsland and I made up…

It encapsulates our belief that artists exist in an organic and fluid organizational environment. One that is buffeted by a world that is ever changing and always out of our control.

In order to adapt to this “chaos”, we believe that arts leaders must look toward creating new organizational models for our arts institutions. Ones that do not over-value five-year plans, when we operate in a world that is not within our control. It may be better for us to focus on the source of our resilience- our own creativity.

The prevailing corporate/colonial/hierarchical model unlikely to be the ones that take us forward. A capitalist value system will always prioritize growth for growth’s sake. That is too institution-centric for an arts enterprise? We need to seek out art-centric values and visions that prioritize our art and artists over institutional growth.

We acknowledge that it is difficult to swim against the tide of historic practice. Therefore, Jane and I want to support the newer, bespoke models of organizational structure being developed for our community. Which means that we prioritize working with newer generation organizations that are value based and mission/vision led.

Ones that centre their decision-making around a value system. A value system that is shared by all within the company and is reflected in the mission/vision of that company.

Our mission is to act as advocates when we collaborate with these companies. We don't bring a predetermined set of models with us. Instead, our methodology is to use an “organizational-dramaturgy” style, that puts questions in the forefront of our engagement. We also have an assortment of helpful tools that we can bring to a conversation.

The central understanding of our work has been crafted through years of commitment to the principles espoused by Arts Action Research. As they say on their website: “We engage the artistic process in every project and with each artist with whom we work. Artists need not be taught how to create, invent, or innovate, but rather enabled and activated to lead from the center, in ways they know and understand best. AAR believes that an art centric culture with an arts conscience can only be artist led.” http://www.artsaction.com

That means looking at how your organization might be run like your rehearsal room- a collective and collaborative process, that prioritizes artistic creativity over institutional growth. We would collaborate with you to use your creative process as the blueprint for structuring all of your administrative affairs.

If engagement like this is of interest to you, I would really enjoy just having a no strings attached conversation or even just answering a question for you. There is no cost involved for that.

To date I have worked with a number of groups or artists- such as Ayesha Maria Khan, Broadleaf Theatre, Great Canadian Theatre Company, New Harlem Productions, Pencil Kit Productions, Renaissance Canadian Theatre Company, Resource Centre for the Arts, Savage Production Society & Sunny Drake.