Submit: Milestone 1

Spring 2026 Performing Arts Management

Submit: Milestone 1

Welcome to the first step of your organizational audit. The audit is your final project for the semester, but you will be building it across the semester. Please note that you may not use AI on this, or any other assignment in this course. This is one of the larger milestones, so please plan sufficient time to identify and begin exploring the organization you select. In all milestones, consider what you are learning in Business Issues in the Arts to inform your milestone.

Milestone 1: Organization Overview & Mission Analysis

Part A: Identify the Organization

Select one real, U.S. based nonprofit performing arts organization (theater, dance, music, opera, interdisciplinary, etc.). This organization will be used for all future milestones. Consider a real organization from your home geographic community. You can confirm that the organization is a nonprofit by searching for them on this site: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/

Include the following information:

1. Organization Name
   
2. Website URL
   
3. Geographic Location
   
   • City, state
4. Type of Performing Arts Organization
   
   • (e.g., regional theater, symphony orchestra, dance company)

Part B: Organization Description (100 words)

Write a 100-word paragraph description of the organization in your own words.

• Base your description on information from the organization’s website.
• Do not copy and paste text from the website.
• Focus on:
  
  • What the organization does
  • Who it serves
  • The kinds of programs or performances it presents

Part C: Mission, Vision, and Values

Provide the organization’s official statements (if available):

• Mission Statement
  
• Vision Statement
  
• Values Statement
  

If one or more of these are not explicitly labeled on the website, note that clearly and explain where you found related language.

Part D: Mission, Vision, and Values Analysis (Short Response)

Respond to the following prompts in complete sentences:

1. Mission Analysis
   
   
   • What is the organization trying to accomplish?
   • Who is the intended audience or community?
     
2. Vision Analysis
   
   
   • What future does the organization imagine or strive toward?
   • How aspirational or specific is the vision?
     
3. Values Analysis
   
   
   • What values seem most important to the organization?
   • How might these values influence programming, staffing, or community engagement?
     
4. ADEI Considerations
   
   
   • Does the organization address Arts, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) topics on the website?
   • How specific or actionable does it seem (if addressed)?
   • What might an omission suggest if ADEI topics are not included on the website?
   • Where could ADEI principles logically align with the organization’s work?