Accelerator Program – Phase I

Beneficiary:

Grant Term:

04/2011 – 03/2012 Contact:

Bevin Bering Dubrowski Executive Director bevin@hcponline.org 713-529-4755 x 13 www.hcponline.org

Mission and Vision MISSION

Houston Center for Photography's mission is to increase society's understanding and appreciation of photography and its evolving role in contemporary

culture. HCP strives to encourage artists, build audiences, stimulate dialogue, and promote inquiry

about photography and related media through education, exhibitions, publications, fellowship

programs, and community collaborations.

VISION

Houston Center for Photography exists to Connect People with Photography.

This is accomplished through exhibitions of, competitions for, and publications about

contemporary photography, as well as education in all aspects of photography.

Public Lecture at HCP with Collector WM Hunt

Use of Funds Funding for Accelerator Phase 1 will be used towards

the creation of a multi-year strategic plan.

Consultant Selection

• HCP first reached out to peer non-profit groups for recommendations. Joe Synan of Leadingwell Associates received excellent reviews from Executive Director of the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and Lawndale Art Center. HCP also recognized that Joe Synan is listed on the Houston Arts Alliance recommendation board

• HCP scheduled an interview with Joe Synan.

• HCP’s Executive Director conducted a phone interview with Sterling and Associates.

• HCP’s Executive Director and [then] Board president interviewed Dini Partners.

• Executive Director and [then] Board President recommended Joe Synan to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors approved the hiring of Joe Synan.

Planning Process

• Executive Director, Board President, and Consultant Joe Synan established goals for Strategic Planning process

• Consultant led HCP staff in a retreat to be sure that staff goals and concerns were addressed in strategic planning process

• Staff and Board prepared for Board of Directors Retreat by answering surveys and discussing ideas during Board and Executive Committee meetings

• Board of Directors Retreat established content for Strategic Plan

• Strategic Plan was formatted and edited by Consultant, Staff, and Board of Directors, then approved by Board of Directors

• Strategic Plan becomes living, working document to guide decisions and goals of the organizations

Goal 1: Exhibitions Objectives:

• Increase on-site audience numbers by 10% each year*

• Increase e-newsletter frequency*

• Publish 6 month exhibition calendar*

• Increase social media presence*

• Create more educational tactics*

• HCP uses QR codes and OnCell to provide electronic docents of each exhibition*

• Stagger exhibition opening dates

• Increase Learning Center Gallery traffic

• Maintain free admission to the public*

• Offer 1 “blockbuster” exhibition each year*

Exhibition Opening Reception – November 17, 2012

* Denotes objectives to address in the next 12 months.

Goal 2: Competitions Objectives:

• Create recognizable prize

• Increase prize to $5,000* (from $2,000)

• Increased prize to $2,500 in 2012

• Fellowship recipients teach an HCP Master Class

• Have nationally recognized jurors*

• 2012 Fellowship Juror – Christopher Rauschenberg, Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, Oregon

• 2012 Membership Exhibition Juror – Anne Wilkes Tucker, Gus and Lyndall Wortham Curator of Photography, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

• Increase number of applicants to 500 for each competition*

• Use callsforentry.org (online submission process) to increase number of applicants*

2012 HCP Fellowship recipient Isa Leshko in conversation with Juror Christopher Rauschenberg

* Denotes objectives to address in the next 12 months.

2012 Carol Crow Memorial Fellowship recipient David Politzer in conversation with Juror Christopher Rauschenberg

Goal 3: Education Objectives:

• Enhance workshop quality*

• Comprehensive curriculum has been developed and will be implemented in Sept 2012*

• Expand educational services*

• HCP has developed a curriculum for teen classes and workshops

• HCP now offers summer camps for young photographers (ages 10 -16)

• Implement alternative delivery methods

• Attract well-known instructors

• Establish instructor evaluation and training*

HCP Intern, artist, and HCP staff gather during HCP’s First Tuesday program

* Denotes objectives to address in the next 12 months.

Students in HCP’s computer-based class

Goal 4: Publications Objectives:

• Re-evaluate presentation of information in Spot*

• Spot is now presented in an interview format

• Expand distribution of Spot (paper)

• Research alternative delivery methods

• Expand distribution of Spot (electronic)

• Develop online/mobile applications to supplement paper version

• Increase page count to 64 pages per issue (currently at 48 pages)

• Research renaming/rebranding “Spot”*

• Decision has been made to maintain the name of Spot

Cover of Spot Left - Fall 2011; Right - Spring 2012

* Denotes objectives to address in the next 12 months.

Goal 5: Membership Objectives:

• Increase HCP’s membership base to 2,500 (from 1,365 – previous organizational high)*

• HCP had 1,600 members on April 30, 2012

• Have a 70% retention rate of members

• On April 30, 2012 – HCP’s renewal rate was 54%

Students in HCP Member-only Master Classes Top – With Joni Sternbach;

Bottom – With Dan Burkholder

* Denotes objectives to address in the next 12 months.

© Joni Sternbach

Keys to Success 1. The Board and Staff are literally on the

same page in regards to goals and priorities.

2. The Strategic Plan provides a guiding compass for all major decisions.

3. The Strategic Plan allows HCP to communicate its goals to the community and funders in a more efficient manner.

4. Thanks to the Strategic Plan, HCP has grown tremendously over the past year and is primed to move forward with the major goals outlined in the Strategic Plan.

HCP Staff

Lessons Learned

• This process ran incredibly smoothly and we plan to repeat similar steps in the future.

• We recommend hiring a consultant that will work as a team member with the staff and Board of Directors. We recommend getting the Board of Directors excited about the process early on and treating the process as an opportunity.

• Staff meeting and Board of Directors meetings now focus on the goals set forth in the Strategic Plan. Please see HCP’s Strategic Plan for organizational goals for the next 5 years.

A living, working document

Summary of Future Plans

• HCP’s Board of Directors attended the annual Board Retreat on April 27 – 28, 2012.

• At this Retreat, the approved strategic plan was evaluated and amended to add a fifth year.

• HCP plans to continue to add to the Strategic Plan each year so there is always a five-year plan for the organization.

• HCP Board of Directors receive a Fact Pack at each Retreat containing in depth information on the organization as a whole. Board and Committee members use this information throughout the year to stay informed on the organization as a whole and how each program interacts with the others.

• HCP staff, Board of Directors, and Committee Chairs will continue to report on the goals set forth in the Strategic Plan to maintain forward momentum in the organization striving to achieve those goals.

HCP Staff – November 3, 2011