Transforming Arts Organizations Worldwide
About Advisory Board for the Arts
Advisory Board for the Arts (ABA) is a global research, insights, and consulting firm serving the arts and culture industry.
DATA DRIVEN RESEARCH addressing the industries most pressing and perennial challenges
A BRIDGE TO OUT-OF-INDUSTRY
BEST IDEAS through research, team experience and personal networks
CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS to each organization’s unique circumstances and needs
125+ YEARS OF COLLECTIVE EXPERTISE
at top consulting, research, and arts organizations worldwide
Together, we are the catalyst for change, innovation and expansion of arts and culture globally.
A GLOBAL NETWORK of 100+ organizations spanning 12 countries on 4 continents
A proven approach to ACTIONABLE AND INSIGHTFUL RESEARCH
Serving ALL GENRES of arts and culture
AN EMBEDDED PARTNER to be at your side year-over-year
ABA
INSIGHTS ABA CONSULTING
ABA Insights is a membership-based research and insights resource supporting the critical decision-making of arts and culture organizations
ABA Consulting provides strategic planning, facilitation, management training, and change management support
ABA INSIGHTS
About ABA Insights Centers of Excellence
MARKETING FUNDRAISING PEOPLE
Engage audiences, visitors and communities
Innovate experience and expand earned revenue
Cultivate contributed income relationships
Define the donor value proposition
Build next generation leadership and culture
Recruit, retain highperforming staff
CEO & BOARD
Innovate business models and governance structures
Focus on executive priorities
How We Deliver Value
MAJOR RESEARCH
Quarterly research initiatives
Best Practice Case Studies
Tools, Templates and Action
Plans
Industry trends
NETWORKING & CONVENING
Executive Roundtables
Peer Forums
Webinars
SURVEYS & BENCHMARKING
Benchmarking
Surveys
Arts 360 Database
Art Executive Polls
COMMISSIONED
PROJECTS
Strategic Decision Support
Project Planning
Process Improvement
Business Intelligence
MAJOR RESEARCH
Quarterly Research Initiatives
Best Practice Case Studies
Tools and Templates
Industry Trends
NETWORKING & CONVENING
Executive Roundtables
Peer Forums
Webinars
SURVEYS & BENCHMARKING
Standardized Surveys
Arts 360* Database
Art Executive Polls
ABA Insights
MARKETING FUNDRAISING PEOPLE CEO & BOARD
COMMISSIONED PROJECTS
Projects to Answer Your Most Strategic Questions
The Future is Now: Growing the Next Generation of Audiences and Visitors
• Marketing Peer Group
• Education Peer Group
Cultivating the Next Generation of Donors
• Fundraising Peer Group
• CFO Peer Group
• Post-Performance Survey
• Visitor Survey
• Audience Survey
• Programming Survey
• Arts360 Database
• Building a World-Class Customer Experience
• Managing Your Brand Across Venues
• Donor Survey
• Art Executive Polls
The Compelling Employer: Attracting and Retaining Arts and Culture Employees
• Virtual Management Fundamentals
• HR Peer Group
• Corporate Membership Programs
• Donation Acknowledgement Processes and Automation
• Inclusion Assessment
• Compelling Employer Survey and Benchmarks
The Experience Economy: Capturing Consumer Demand for Experiences
• ABA Global CEO Retreats
• Mid-Career Executive Peer Forum
• Art Executive Polls on Board and Governance
• Anatomy of a WorldClass Arts and Culture Organization
• Performance Management Tools
• Organizational Structures for Museum Interpretation
• The Role of Arts in Economic Revitalization
• Diversifying Revenue Streams
ABA Centers of Excellence
MARKETING
MAJOR RESEARCH
The Future is Now: Growing the Next Generation of Audiences and Visitors
Driving Attendance: Marketing Practices that Accelerate Audience Growth
Jobs To Be Done: A Motivational Segmentation Framework
The Experience Economy: Capturing Consumer Demand for Experiences
NETWORKING & CONVENING
Marketing Peer Group
Education Peer Group
SURVEYS & BENCHMARKING COMMISSIONED PROJECTS
Post Performance Survey
Audience Survey
Visitor Survey
Programming Survey
Arts360 Database
Art Executive Polls
Building a World-Class End-toEnd Customer Experience
Managing Your Brand Across Venues
Creating Brand and Product Licensing Partnerships
Out-of-Sector Lessons for Building Customer Loyalty
Young Adult Ticketing Programs
Season Announcement and Subscription Communications
ABA Centers of Excellence
FUNDRAISING
MAJOR RESEARCH
Redefining the Donor Value Proposition: Accelerating the Donor Shift to a More Philanthropic Mindset
Understanding Donor Motivations by Category and Genre
NETWORKING & CONVENING
CFO Peer Forum
Fundraising Peer Forum
SURVEYS & BENCHMARKING COMMISSIONED PROJECTS
Donor Survey
Art Executive Polls
Donor Acknowledgement Processes and Automation
Best Practices for Setting Up a “Friends of” Program
Galas and Fundraising Events
Demonstrating ROI for Corporate Sponsors
High-Impact Reporting: Embedding Storytelling and Navigation in Report Creation
ABA Centers of Excellence
MAJOR RESEARCH
The Compelling Employer:
Attracting and Retaining Arts and Culture Professionals
Out-of-Sector Lessons for Creating a Values-Based Culture
Best Practices in DEIA Programs
NETWORKING & CONVENING
Management Fundamentals
HR Peer Forum
Shared Values Workshop
SURVEYS & BENCHMARKING COMMISSIONED PROJECTS
Inclusion Assessment
Compelling Employer Member Report and Benchmark
Compensation Benchmark for Key Administrative Roles
Art Executive Polls
Managing a Founding Leader Departure
A Guide to Performance Reviews
Online Business Education for Musicians
Organizational Structures for Museum Interpretation
Employee Exit Interview Template
ABA Centers of Excellence
CEO & BOARD
MAJOR RESEARCH
The Potential of Strategic Alliances at Arts Organizations
Maximizing New Sources of Revenue
Board Governance Structures and Practices
The Experience Economy: Capturing Consumer Demand for Experiences
NETWORKING & CONVENING
ABA Global CEO Retreats
Board Chair Peer Forum
Mid-Career Executive Peer Forum
SURVEYS & BENCHMARKING COMMISSIONED PROJECTS
Art Executive Polls
Anatomy of a World-Class Arts and Culture Organization: Diagnostic
Managing an Organizational Rebrand
Managing a Founding Leader Departure
Organizational Structures for Resident and Subsidiary Companies
Scene Shop Management Models
2025 Major Research Preview
Q1 2025 Q3 2025 Q2 2025 Q4 2025
The Compelling Employer: Attracting and Retaining Arts and Culture Professionals
The Experience Economy: Capturing Consumer Demand for Experiences
The Future is Now: Growing the Next Generation of Audiences and Visitors
Cultivating the Next Generation of Major Donors
What Arts and Culture CEOs Want to Know in 2025
Understanding Motivations of Arts & Culture Employees: Insights from ABA’s Global Staff Survey Out-of-Industry Lessons for Creating a Values-Based Culture and Productive Office Environment
Strategies for Creating a Brilliant Day Out Strategies for Maximizing New Sources of Revenue
From Ticket to Destination:
Transforming Organizations from a Ticket Venue to a Cultural Destination
Best Practices in Capturing Gen Z’s Entertainment Wallet Share
Best Practices in Designing and Delivering Innovative Experiences in the Arts and Culture Sector
Anatomy of a World-Class Arts & Culture Organization: How to Deploy At Your Organization
Understanding Motivations and Experiences of Arts Patrons
Leveraging Motivational Segmentation to Grow the Next Generation of Audiences and Visitors
Balancing Dual Goals of Audience and Visitor Diversification and Loyalty
ABA’s Annual Industry Reach
ABA’s breadth of research, data and insights has achieved unprecedented reach. With over 110 members across 4 continents and 12 countries, fostering dialogue and relationships unparalleled in the Arts.
1200+ Advisory Conversations
16 Executive Benchmark s
40 commissioned research projects
142 Attendees at
7 Executive Roundtables in 4 countries
48 Surveys
15 Virtual peer group forums
235 Research Interviews
34 Management Fundamentals ABA training sessions
150 in 22 countries New organizations introduced to ABA
Our Impact through ABA Insights
ABA’s impact on the organizations it serves runs a wide variety of topics, opportunities and issues, from highly strategic to tactical implementation.
Analysed 13 leading museums to profile best practices in structuring interpretations teams and embedding them into existing workflows
Helped them understand the future of live events and the implications of this for their flower shows
Becoming the mythical opera company’s go-to surveying solution to gather and assess feedback from audiences attending La Scala
Helping a regional performing arts center in the Sunshine Coast of Australia rebrand and better cater to its local population by surveying over 55,000 residents in their region
Helping the Finnish performance hall demonstrate the economic impact they have on the city to help them maintain their civic funding
Convened a quarterly peer group of data and analytics leaders in the arts and culture sector to solve common institutional data challenges and share leading practices.
Conducted a compensation benchmark of key administrative roles, including the General Manager, Company Manager and Production Manager, to determine salary ranges and underlying factors for pay differences.
Supporting the US’ second largest performing arts venue develop an innovative culture district in downtown Cleveland to transform the city’s cultural image and attendance profile
Partnering with the Cathedral to facilitate their employee engagement survey, identify areas of opportunity and create an action plan to drive key initiatives.
"ABA commits itself to the exchange of ideas for a thriving cultural sector.
Arts leaders are confronted daily with new challenges. ABA’s collective data and expertise, collected weekly and applied from its membership network, have continued to help us drive change by utilizing their insights and referencing trends among our peer organizations.
To stay strong, you’ve got to have friends, especially in times of crisis. Together with our partners, we continue discovering creative new ways to solve problems and move forward."
A Word from Our Members
“The Collaboration {with ABA} offers the opportunity to access a global network and an international platform for dialogue, fostering the creation of innovative projects and tailored solutions to address future challenges in the cultural world.
With the support of ABA, it will be possible to further strengthen the Piccolo Teatro’s role on an international level, consolidate its mission as a ’theatre of art for everyone’ and enhance its public service vocation. This journey will also make it possible to explore new ways to promote accessibility, sustainability, and community engagement.”
"At Newport Classical, we work to inspire and expand the audience of tomorrow with timeless music for today and are enthusiastic about how joining the global ABA community will allow us to learn from our peers and use timely data to inform our efforts and remain relevant and impactful. ABA provides valuable resources, professional development opportunities, and connections that we are grateful to benefit from, and all of us at Newport Classical look forward to engaging with our colleagues around the world."
GILLIAN FOX EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NEWPORT CLASSICAL (Newport,
“Playhouse Square is delighted to join the ABA family of national and international organizations. The strength of the data of this group is only made stronger through increased memberships. ABA has already demonstrated the potency of the data delivered through its various studies. Playhouse Square will be an active and engaged member, and I am sure that there will be a bountiful reward of data to guide our strategic direction as a result of this partnership.”
RI, USA)
CRAIG HASSALL PRESIDENT & CEO
GREG CAMERON JOFFREY BALLET (Chicago,
IL, USA)
— PICCOLO TEATRO (Milan, Italy)
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE (Cleveland, OH, USA)
