Outdated Power, Stalled Art

In this episode, I unpack how outdated, coercive leadership models continue to shape the arts and why they no longer serve artists, institutions, or audiences. Drawing from my own experiences in military school and the theatre world, I look at how hierarchy, control, and image-management persist under the guise of professionalism. I also examine donor culture in the U.S., the problem of “reputation laundering,” and why arts funding so often reinforces inequality instead of creativity. Along the way, I argue for more humane leadership, greater transparency, and a return to direct support for artists, models that prioritize people over power and experimentation over control.