{"id":5156,"date":"2023-10-05T22:17:53","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T22:17:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/?post_type=update&#038;p=5156"},"modified":"2025-06-26T20:34:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T20:34:01","slug":"introducing-arts-midwests-theory-of-change","status":"publish","type":"update","link":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/about\/updates\/introducing-arts-midwests-theory-of-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing Arts Midwest\u2019s Theory of Change\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As Vice President of Arts Midwest, I have the almost daily pleasure of introducing our commitment to Midwestern creativity. In conversations with partners, donors, and colleagues, I get to share what we do, why we do it, and where we are headed as an organization.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My introductions always share our <a href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/about\/updates\/brand-story\/\">strategy frame<\/a>, which guides both our long-term strategies and our day-to-day work:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Our mission is to build unprecedented opportunity across the Midwest by advancing creativity.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We are guided by three core values: togetherness, integrity, and learning.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We focus on three areas: support, inform, and celebrate.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Our vision is a future in which Midwestern creativity powers thriving, entrepreneurial, and welcoming communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, I\u2019m excited to introduce another component of this strategy \u2013 our Theory of Change.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-theory-of-change-nbsp\">What is a Theory of Change?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some incredible resources out there about theories of change, how they help organizations understand their impact, and how to go about creating one.&nbsp;&nbsp;While I won\u2019t try to replicate that great work here, I will share what a Theory of Change means to Arts Midwest.*&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For us, a Theory of Change is a tool that maps what success looks like and how we might get there. It names what we do, how we do it, and what impact we expect our efforts to have. We&#8217;re using it to deepen our internal and external understanding of how our strategies lead to results.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Of note \u2013 this definition borrows from the insights of smart folks like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aecf.org\/resources\/theory-of-change)\">Annie E. Casey Foundation<\/a> , <a href=\"http:\/\/learningforaction.com\/what-is-a-theory-of-change\">Learning for Action<\/a>, and our friends and colleagues at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilder.org\/,\">Wilder Foundation<\/a>, who were key partners to Arts Midwest in this process.&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-our-process-nbsp\">Our Process&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Developing Arts Midwest\u2019s Theory of Change was a labor of love.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our team began this work in 2020, during the early days of <a href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/team\/torrie-allen\/\">Torrie Allen\u2019s<\/a> leadership as our President and CEO, before the pandemic reshaped our organization and our industry, and before we developed our new strategic direction.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over those four years, it has been a living draft. We\u2019ve adjusted it in response to community surveys and feedback, incorporated new programmatic commitments, and updated it to reflect our evolving understanding of how we can best serve the Midwest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We learned a lot in that process. We had messy conversations about where we are headed and how we might get there. We got stumped asking big questions about how we might track our progress and how you can (or can\u2019t measure) the impact of arts programs and experiences. And we sat in a vulnerable space, examining what we hold on to from our past and what\u2019s ready for reimagining.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While this document will never really be done, we\u2019re eager to invite you into this process of learning and evolving.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-our-results-nbsp\">Our Results&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Arts Midwest\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2025-Theory-of-Change.pdf\">Theory of Change<\/a> begins with our mission and values. They form both our starting point and our filter\u2013 what we\u2019re up to and how we agree to work together.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From there, we name how our focus on supporting, informing, and celebrating Midwestern creativity shapes our investments, our work to nurture growth and connection among Midwestern creatives, and our commitment to championing this region.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div \n   \n  class=\"wp-block-image mt-14 col-start-2 col-span-1 max-w-prose mb-14\"\n  data-block-index=\"0\" style=\"z-index:4;\"\n>\n  <figure class=\"\">\n          <div class=\"relative\">\n        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"351\" src=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1-copy.svg\" class=\"w-full\" alt=\"A graphic that reads Support: We invest in efforts that use creativity to connect people, ideas, and solutions; Inform: We share data and ideas to support Midwestern communities in being more visible, sustainable, and interconnected; and Celebrate: We honor the people, places, and creative organizations that comprise the Midwest.\" sizes=\"(min-width: 960px) 896px,\n                        (min-width: 640px) calc(100vw - 4rem),\n                        calc(100vw - 2rem)\" \/>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute left-3.75 lg:left-4 bottom-3 lg:bottom-4 z-10\">\n                  <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      \n    \n  <\/figure>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We then name six outcomes. We share that we\u2019re working toward more \u2013 and more equitable \u2013 funding for the region, stronger arts leaders, and a greater collective understanding of just how amazing the Midwest is.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div \n   \n  class=\"wp-block-image mt-14 col-start-2 col-span-1 max-w-prose mb-14\"\n  data-block-index=\"1\" style=\"z-index:3;\"\n>\n  <figure class=\"\">\n          <div class=\"relative\">\n        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"449\" src=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Copy-of-We-invest-in-efforts-that-use-creativity-to-connect-people-ideas-and-solutions.svg\" class=\"w-full\" alt=\"A graphic that shows support, inform, and celebrate outcomes.\" sizes=\"(min-width: 960px) 896px,\n                        (min-width: 640px) calc(100vw - 4rem),\n                        calc(100vw - 2rem)\" \/>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute left-3.75 lg:left-4 bottom-3 lg:bottom-4 z-10\">\n                  <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      \n    \n  <\/figure>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>These outcomes hold us accountable and keep us humble. They\u2019re aspirational. And they hint at the long, unchartered course ahead.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Theory of Change ends with our vision that Midwestern creativity powers thriving, entrepreneurial, and welcoming communities. This vision stands proudly as that distant horizon line, keeping us focused on our goals and next steps.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div \n   \n  class=\"wp-block-image mt-14 col-start-2 col-span-1 max-w-prose mb-14\"\n  data-block-index=\"2\" style=\"z-index:2;\"\n>\n  <figure class=\"\">\n          <div class=\"relative\">\n        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"298\" src=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/3-1.svg\" class=\"w-full\" alt=\"A graphic that reads &quot;Through these changes, we expect Midwestern Creativity will power thriving communities, entrepreneurial communities, and welcoming communities.\" sizes=\"(min-width: 960px) 896px,\n                        (min-width: 640px) calc(100vw - 4rem),\n                        calc(100vw - 2rem)\" \/>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute left-3.75 lg:left-4 bottom-3 lg:bottom-4 z-10\">\n                  <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      \n    \n  <\/figure>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-next-nbsp\">What\u2019s Next&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We know that doing our best work means building on our past, welcoming new ideas, and making edits along the way. As a living document, our Theory of Change will continue to change and evolve alongside our work.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We invite you to join us in advancing creativity and cultural enrichment across the Midwest. Together, let&#8217;s work towards a more vibrant and welcoming Midwest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:73px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<section  class=\"wp-block-image-cta bg-light-coral lg:relative \" data-block-index=\"3\" style=\"z-index:1;\">\n    <div class=\"lg:content-4-col-grid flex flex-col\">\n\n        \n        <div class=\"lg:row-span-1 lg:row-start-1 relative min-w-0 flex items-center order-2 lg:order-none col-start-2\">\n            \n            <div class=\"absolute top-0 right-0 lg:hidden\">\n                            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"px-4 sm:px-8 lg:px-0 pt-7 sm:py-24 lg:py-36 pb-11   lg:pr-16\">\n\n                                    <h2 class=\"text-midnight text-3xl sm:text-5xl leading-none mb-4 sm:mb-9\">Download our Theory of Change<\/h2>\n                \n                \n                                    <p>\n                        <a class=\"inline-flex items-center transition-colors text-sm leading-6 z-20 relative pt-2.5 pb-2 px-10 rounded-xl border text-dark-sky border-dark-sky hover:bg-white\/20 active:bg-dark-sky\/5\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2025-Theory-of-Change.pdf\"\n  \n>\n      <span class=\"block w-4 -ml-2 mr-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n      <?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"iso-8859-1\"?>\r\n<!-- Generator: Adobe Illustrator 18.0.0, SVG Export Plug-In . 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object-cover inset-0\" alt=\"A mexican dancer performing with a large pink and white skirts at an NEA Big Read event.\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 50vw, 100vw\" style=\"object-position: 50% 9%;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Big-Read-6-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Big-Read-6-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Big-Read-6-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Big-Read-6-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Big-Read-6-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Big-Read-6-scaled.jpg 1707w\" \/>\n\n                <div class=\"absolute w-full h-full\">\n                    <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"hidden sm:block relative w-full h-full bg-hero-gradient \">\n                    <p class=\"absolute text-white text-right w-16 text-xs leading-3 right-6 md:right-10 lg:right-20 xl:right-24 bottom-52 translate-y-8 lg:translate-y-4 xl:translate-y-0\">\n                Book Event<\/p>\n                    <p class=\"absolute text-white text-right w-16 text-xs leading-3 right-24 md:right-32 lg:right-36 xl:right-44 bottom-36 translate-y-8 lg:translate-y-4 xl:translate-y-0\">\n                Santa Ana, CA<\/p>\n                    <p class=\"absolute text-white text-right w-16 text-xs leading-3 right-6 md:right-10 lg:right-20 xl:right-24 bottom-24 translate-y-8 lg:translate-y-4 xl:translate-y-0\">\n                NEA Big Read<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"absolute left-5 bottom-8\">\n                    <div class=\"px-2.5 lg:px-3 py-1.5 lg:py-2 rounded-md bg-dark-sky\/50 flex items-center text-white\">\n    <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"w-3 lg:w-3.75 h-3 lg:h-3.5 mr-2 text-current fill-current\" width=\"15\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 15 14\" fill=\"none\" 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<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our Theory of Change guides Arts Midwest\u2019s long-term strategies and our day-to-day work, mapping what success looks like and how we might get there.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5183,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"396,6250,4180,6256,284,847","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":""},"aw-author":[111],"location":[],"program-grant":[],"update-category":[],"class_list":["post-5156","update","type-update","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","aw-author-anne-romens"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.8 (Yoast SEO v26.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Introducing Arts Midwest\u2019s Theory of Change\u00a0 - Arts Midwest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Our Theory of Change guides Arts Midwest\u2019s long-term strategies and our day-to-day work, mapping what success looks like and how we might get there.\u00a0\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/about\/updates\/introducing-arts-midwests-theory-of-change\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Introducing Arts Midwest\u2019s Theory of Change\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Our Theory of Change guides Arts Midwest\u2019s long-term strategies and our day-to-day work, mapping what success looks like and how we might get there.\u00a0\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/about\/updates\/introducing-arts-midwests-theory-of-change\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Arts Midwest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/artsmidwest\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"Anne Romens\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-26T20:34:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/GIG-Fund-00032493-CMD2023-perform3-1.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1536\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ArtsMidwest\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" 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