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Join us Wednesday, January 28th at 7PM in the Silver Spring Civic Building for a book talk with author and founder of Imagination Stage Bonnie Fogel, who will discuss her new book Entrepreneurial Arts & Cultural Leadership: Traits of Success in Nonprofit Theatre - A tactical guide for nonprofit arts leaders, revealing the entrepreneurial traits that turn creative passion into sustainable success. This discussion will be hosted by SSTCi Executive Director Lisa Martin.Entrepreneurial Arts and Cultural Leadership focuses on real-world strategies for developing the entrepreneurial mindset necessary for leading and sustaining nonprofit arts organizations. Bonnie Fogel and Brett Ashley Crawford examine the leadership traits that drive innovation, adaptability, and long-term viability in the ever-evolving arts sector.
Through the case study of Imagination Stage, they highlight how successful nonprofit theater leaders can navigate financial instability, advocate for equity and inclusion, and implement sustainable business models in a landscape forever impacted by national and global events. With practical insights, tools, and a resource-rich appendix, this book offers arts managers, educators, and nonprofit leaders a roadmap for resilience and growth. Whether you are an advanced student, a researcher, or an arts executive seeking inspiration, this book provides an essential framework for building the future of nonprofit theatre.
About the Author
Bonnie Fogel is a nonprofit leader responsible for creating, building and leading one of the top Theatres for Young Audiences in the United States for over four decades: Imagination Stage, Inc.
Her entrepreneurial approach touches upon many of the core business principles shared by nonprofits and for-profits alike. Over 43 years, Imagination Stage’s influence as a Theatre for Young Audiences, an arts education exemplar, and a model for sustainable growth, has expanded across the country thanks to her founding entrepreneurial vision and intentional deployment of entrepreneurial leadership traits.
As the executive head of the organization, Bonnie was responsible for advancing the vision and mission of Imagination Stage by leading and overseeing all aspects of the organization. Her entrepreneurial style, developed in the marketing division of Marks & Spencer, the UK-based retail giant, informed her leadership style, which emphasized strategic direction, marketing and communications, and finding and supporting the resources (financial and human) needed to enhance the growth and development of a successful business. She worked closely with artistic and educational colleagues to ensure programming goals advanced the company’s mission and vision while personally prioritizing efficient daily operation and administration, advocacy (political and entrepreneurial) strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, community relations, and governance by engaging boards of trustees, elected and appointed government officials, donors, and other community partners to support organization objectives. Bonnie was also instrumental in the establishment of Imagination Stage DC (in 2003). She is currently working as an arts management consultant and coach for nonprofit businesses.
When Imagination Stage was established (as Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts), Bonnie didn’t have any of the skills that traditional wisdom dictates are necessary for success (for instance, she had not attended college or university) but she did have things that ended up being much more important:
• A dream: she knew what was missing in the community – opportunities for children to experience theatre in a meaningful and consistent way,
• A business partner: one with the skills she lacked – a professional actor and teacher,
• Business acumen: learned at Marks & Spencer UK, which had taught her the importance of customer relations, building a brand, and having a product that has quality and value,
• An entrepreneurial spirit: she had established several service projects in the community
• A desire to communicate through the written word, publicity and messaging,
• A sense of humor: an invaluable business asset, and most important of all –
• A “people first” democratic perspective that encouraged others to join the endeavor and respected and honored their commitment and sought to incorporate their ideas.
This background is shared to boost the confidence of those who have a dream but think they don’t have the necessary education, experience or skills to bring it to fruition. Just Do It!
About Our Host
Lisa Martin has served as Executive Director of Silver Spring Town Center Inc since November 2011. Along with the Silver Spring Blues Festival, she oversees 100+ arts and entertainment events keeping our community connected and creatively engaged.
Lisa has over 30 years of experience working with arts and cultural organizations, both domestically and abroad, including the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, VSA Arts International Festival, San Diego Opera, the Galway International Arts Festival, Film Fest DC and the Pärnu International Anthropology & Documentary Film Festival in Estonia, where Lisa served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer 1996-98. She also worked for several years in program evaluation for museums, historical sites and science centers. Through her volunteer work with Partners of the Americas, she has done cultural exchanges to Brazil on Education & Culture Program travel grants with the US State Department. Through these exchanges, she gave several presentations entitled Community Building Through the Arts in Public Spaces, which details her work in creative placemaking.
Lisa has a Master’s Degree in Arts Management from American University, a BA in Journalism and a BS in Cultural Anthropology from San Diego State University, as well as an Executive Certificate in Facilitation from the Institute of Transformational Leadership at Georgetown University. Among her accolades, Lisa is the 2016 recipient of the Montgomery County Executive’s Award for Excellence in the Arts & Humanities for Community Leadership. She is also a two-time recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service and most recently the 2025 recipient of the Civic Circle’s Art of Service Award. She is also a graduate of the 2017 Core Class of Leadership Montgomery.
Lisa resides in Foggy Bottom with her partner Towfik.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Silver Spring Civic Building, 20910, 8045 Kennett St, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4881, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
