Framing the Work of Art: Spirituality and Career Discourse in the Nonprofit Arts Sector

ABSTRACT

Based on qualitative data from participant interviews, this study explores how nonprofit arts managers construct the notion of career, and more specifically, how they frame the nature of their work and career choices. Findings revealed that participants employed a spiritual framework of calling, service, sacrifice, and personal rewards to socially construct, understand, and legitimate their nonprofit careers. These framing devices provided the language for participants to make sense of their career decisions and to define their career successes in terms of their own values instead of traditional measures of extrinsic rewards. As contemporary workers place increasing importance on meaningful work, spiritually centered discourse has implications for career theory and organizational practices in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors.

Keywords:

• Arts
• Calling
• Career
• Discourse
• Framing
• Nonprofit
• Protean
• Spirituality

The authors are grateful to the editors, Patrice M. Buzzanell and Lynn M. Harter, and three anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions.

Notes

[1] Hammack (2002) defined nonprofit entities as formal, private organizations that are self-governing, and voluntarily supported. The mission of nonprofit organizations is to serve a public benefit rather than seek a profit. P. Hall (1987) explicates the three purposes of nonprofit organizations as the association of individuals:(1) to perform public tasks that have been delegated to them by the state; (2) to perform public tasks for which there is a demand that neither the state nor for-profit organizations are willing to fulfill; or (3) to influence the direction of policy in the state, the for-profit sector, or other nonprofit organizations. (p. 3)

[2] More specifically, D. Hall (2004) delineates five characteristics of work as a calling: (a) when individuals see their work as a calling; (b) when work serves a community (not just self and family); (c) when career decisions involve discernment to know the right direction; (d) when work involves the quintessential self or “genius;” and (e) when work uses one's gifts for the common good.

[3] Among the five researchers, one has direct experience as a nonprofit employee in the community under study. Of her 15 years working in the nonprofit sector, she spent two years as an employee of the community's historical association, one of the organizations represented by participants in this study. During her employment, she developed working relationships with several other arts organizations. Though no longer formally affiliated with the arts sector, this researcher maintains contact with many of her former colleagues and continues to support local arts programs. A second researcher has 7 years experience in nonprofit management in a different locale. The other three researchers have served in volunteer and leadership positions in a variety of other nonprofit organizations in both this community and others.

[4] Exempt employees are defined as those receiving a salary rather than an hourly wage.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer Mize Smith

Jennifer Mize Smith is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication at Purdue University. She specializes in organizational communication as it relates to nonprofit organizations, workplace fundraising, and the social construction of philanthropy.

Colleen Arendt

Colleen Arendt is a master's student in the Department of Communication at Purdue University. Her research interests include emotion labor and military careers.

Jennifer Bezek Lahman

Jennifer Bezek Lahman is pursuing a career at Lightspeed Research where she provides study feasibility and pricing for consumer research.

Gina N. Settle

Gina N. Settle is the Outreach Coordinator for the College of Engineering and a part-time graduate student in the Department of Communication at Purdue University.

Ashley Duff

Ashley C. Duff is a master's student in the Department of Communication at Purdue University with interests in emotional labor, occupational identities, and careers.