February 1–4, 2001
Yulee, FL
Ronnie Brooks, director of the Institute for Renewing Community Leadership
Peter W. Culman, former managing director of Center Stage
During the summer of 2000, TCG conducted focus groups funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. The groups included: finance, education, development and marketing directors as well as literary and production managers from a range of TCG Member Theatres. They expressed concerns about the difficulty of maintaining energy, enthusiasm and a sense of challenge and fulfillment over the arc of a long-term career in the not-for-profit theatre. TCG organized the White Oak Renewal Retreat in response to these concerns.
The White Oak Renewal Retreat addressed personal, professional and institutional renewal-what it is, why it matters and skills for pursuing it, as well as strategies for sustaining excellence, creativity and enthusiasm while pursuing the craft of theatre. Topics discussed included: renewal, the concepts of purpose and value, avoiding burnout and how to have effective conversations.
Participants left White Oak with ideas on how to lead their own departments more effectively and the realization that the renewal process requires constant care and work but is essential to leading a fulfilling personal and work life. Attendees included 32 senior level managers from TCG Member Theatres with tenures ranging from three years to over two decades, from various disciplines and from a wide variety of theatres across the country.
Click here for an agenda.
Click here to view the 2001 White Oak Renewal Retreat participant list.
Please email Emilya Cachapero with any questions about this program.
The White Oak Retreat on Renewal and Sustaining Excellence was generously funded by The Howard Gilman Foundation.