FREE WEBINAR
The Fourth Turning: What Comes Next for Arts & Culture?
A live roundtable on Thursday, October 29, 5:00 to 6:00pm ET.
If history moves in cycles, where are we now, and what does it mean for cultural organizations? Join TRG Arts CEO Jill Robinson and a panel of arts leaders for a candid conversation about this moment and the years ahead.
Why this conversation, why now?
Arts and cultural organizations have weathered a financial crisis, a pandemic and rapid technological change in under two decades. Many leaders are asking whether these are separate shocks or part of a larger pattern, and what that means for how they plan, lead and invest.
This roundtable explores the Fourth Turning, a well-known theory of generational change, as a lens on those questions. Panelists will explore how shifts in audiences, giving and leadership may shape the field, and what organizations can do now to stay resilient and relevant. Jill Robinson will also share what TRG Arts' benchmark data shows about how audiences and donors are behaving today.
The conversation runs for 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of audience questions.
Meet the panelists
Tinashe Kajese-Bolden
David Schmitz
Founder and Lead Advisor at Amplify Leadership Advisors and Interim Executive Director at American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco
Ben Cameron
Retired Foundation President
Gideon Arthurs
Incoming CEO at Harbourfront Centre
Jamie Herlich
Managing Director at ZACH Theater
Chad Bauman
Executive Director at Milwaukee Rep
What is the Fourth Turning?
The Fourth Turning is a theory of generational history developed by William Strauss and Neil Howe, first published in 1997 and revisited in Howe's 2023 book The Fourth Turning Is Here. It suggests that American history moves in roughly 80-year cycles of four "turnings": a High, an Awakening, an Unraveling and a Crisis. Each generation takes on a distinct role as the cycle turns. According to the theory, we are now in a Crisis period, a time of upheaval that eventually gives way to renewal and new institutions.
You don't need to have read the book to join. We'll cover the key ideas at the start.
Who is this for?
- CEOs, executive and managing directors of arts and cultural organizations
- Artistic, curatorial and programming leaders
- Marketing, development and revenue leaders
- Board members thinking about long-term strategy
- Anyone interested in where the cultural sector is heading
Your host
About Jill
Jill Robinson has spent more than three decades helping arts and cultural leaders build stronger, more sustainable organizations.
She has grown TRG Arts into an international, data-driven consultancy serving more than 1,200 clients across North America, Australia, the U.K. and Europe. She also led the creation of the Arts & Culture Benchmark, the industry's largest dataset on arts and cultural consumers. She is a frequent keynote speaker and serves on the board of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP)
Secure Your Spot
Can't make it on the day? Register and we'll send you the recording and slides after the session.


