Arts Integration as Pathway to Unity in the Community: The (Ongoing) Journey of Pillsbury House + Theatre

Arts Integration as Pathway to Unity in the Community: The (Ongoing) Journey of Pillsbury House + Theatre tells the story of how a nonprofit theater and a social service agency rediscovered their shared history and unified operations to become a Center for Creativity and Community.  The report cites continual assessment as one factor of success for the merged organization and includes information on its evaluation efforts.

The study documents what happens as the staff attempts to embed the arts in almost every aspect of the organization including: comprehensive and authentic arts-integration throughout the organization, artistic/creative process in organizational learning, nonprofit management, and innovation, and finally to become a leader in the neighborhood’s cultural community development.

Veteran arts funder and journalist Nancy Fushan traces the journey through stories and interviews with more than 30 staff, artists, program participants, community and civic leaders, residents, and funders.

The study includes data from independent program evaluations from 2010-2013, and chronicles the challenges of such a comprehensive evaluation, including defining measures of success, capacity building, and maintaining a commitment to valid assessment.