AMS Planning & Research Corp

AMS Planning & Research Corp AMS Planning & Research is committed to the role of the arts, culture and entertainment in our commu

How big should a theater really be?It is a question that comes up in nearly every capital project—and it is often framed...
06/10/2026

How big should a theater really be?

It is a question that comes up in nearly every capital project—and it is often framed around growth.

At Writers Theatre, the answer took a different shape. The organization chose a 250-seat theater, prioritizing intimacy and artistic experience over maximizing size.

At the time, some questioned whether it should have been larger.

In hindsight, that decision proved lasting. As attendance patterns shifted after COVID, the scale of the space aligned more closely with how audiences were actually returning.

Right-sizing is not just about square footage.

It is a strategic decision shaped by program, audience, staffing, and long-term sustainability.

The spaces that endure are the ones that continue to fit as organizations evolve.

How are you thinking about scale in your own spaces today?

AMS is pleased to welcome Lehan Xu as our newest Lynette A. Turner Pathways to Consulting Fellow.With a background in ar...
06/04/2026

AMS is pleased to welcome Lehan Xu as our newest Lynette A. Turner Pathways to Consulting Fellow.

With a background in arts management, economics, and statistics, Lehan brings experience across finance, operations, and development in performing arts organizations.

Born and raised in China, she is especially interested in how arts organizations can foster connection, reflect diverse identities, and expand access.

We’re glad to have her perspective on the team.

What role do you see arts administrators playing in shaping the future of the field?

We’re excited to recognize two AMS team members whose work continues to strengthen research, analysis, and project leade...
06/02/2026

We’re excited to recognize two AMS team members whose work continues to strengthen research, analysis, and project leadership across the firm.

Lauren is moving into a Project Leader role, reflecting both her leadership on projects and her ongoing work guiding how AMS collects, interprets, and communicates data.

Yuwen has been promoted to Senior Analyst, recognizing the depth, care, and consistency she brings to analysis and project work.

As our research and planning tools continue to evolve, thoughtful analysis and human judgment remain at the center of strong decision-making. We’re grateful for colleagues who bring both technical skill and deep care to their work every day.

Congratulations, Lauren and Yuwen!

We’re excited to celebrate new roles for three AMS team members whose leadership continues to shape our work in meaningf...
05/27/2026

We’re excited to celebrate new roles for three AMS team members whose leadership continues to shape our work in meaningful ways.

Hannah Fenlon and Nora Fleury are stepping into new Associate Director roles, expanding their leadership in project work, relationship-building, and the long-term growth of AMS.

Meg Friedman is taking on the role of Knowledge Manager & Senior Project Leader, reflecting both her project leadership and her incredible ability to connect ideas, insights, and institutional knowledge across the firm.

One of the best parts of growing as an organization is seeing people continue to grow into new ways of leading, collaborating, and supporting both colleagues and clients.

We’re grateful for the care, thoughtfulness, and energy each of them brings to AMS every day.

In arts and culture work, strong projects are built through partnership.They depend on people who can listen carefully, ...
05/21/2026

In arts and culture work, strong projects are built through partnership.

They depend on people who can listen carefully, navigate complexity, guide decision-making, and help teams move forward with clarity and trust.

At AMS, that work happens collaboratively across our teams. Directors are deeply involved throughout each engagement, while Project Leaders help shape and guide our work alongside clients and partners from start to finish.

As our firm continues to grow, we’ve been reflecting on the many ways leadership shows up across a project lifecycle — often quietly, and often through strong relationships built over time.

Because this work has always been about more than coordination. It’s about stewardship, collaboration, and helping organizations navigate important decisions with care.

We’re grateful for the thoughtful leadership our team brings to this work every day.

Some of the most valuable conversations at conferences do not happen on stage.They happen in between sessions. In passin...
05/19/2026

Some of the most valuable conversations at conferences do not happen on stage.

They happen in between sessions. In passing. In the moments where people share what they are really working through—questions about space, community, and what comes next.

AMS and Fisher Dachs Associates, Theatre Planning and Design recently attended the Community Forum Spring 2026 hosted by ART/NY, where we connected with arts and cultural leaders from across the field.

We appreciated the opportunity to exchange ideas and hear thoughtful perspectives on the evolving needs of cultural spaces and organizations.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to talk with us throughout the day. We are always grateful for conversations that continue beyond the formal agenda.

What conversations from this year’s forum are still resonating with you?

Cultural facility projects often begin with a shared vision, but getting from vision to reality requires sustained coord...
05/12/2026

Cultural facility projects often begin with a shared vision, but getting from vision to reality requires sustained coordination across many perspectives.

At the IAVM Super Regional in Baltimore, AMS Senior Project Manager Nora Fleury joined a panel discussion on planning and managing these projects alongside peers in design and project management.

Thank you to Ted Ohl and Schuler Shook for bringing this group together.

Conversations like this are a reminder of how much these efforts depend on alignment—across teams, priorities, and the communities these spaces are meant to serve.

Where alignment is strong, progress tends to follow.

Some places are getting a lot of attention right now—and Northwest Arkansas is one of them.Next week, our colleague Meg ...
05/05/2026

Some places are getting a lot of attention right now—and Northwest Arkansas is one of them.

Next week, our colleague Meg Friedman, Project Manager and Knowledge Manager at AMS, will be there for the Congress for the New Urbanism 34.

From a distance, it’s easy to notice the headlines—growing recognition, new investment, national attention. But what’s more interesting is what’s happening underneath: the relationships, the long-term commitments, and the ways philanthropy is shaping a broader cultural ecosystem.

That kind of evolution is hard to understand without being there.

We’re looking forward to spending time in Fayetteville and Bentonville, listening and learning from the people and places that make the work real.

If you’ll be at CNU, what are you hoping to notice or better understand while you’re there?

Art is for everyone.During our time at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, we had the opportunity to hear directly from Direct...
04/28/2026

Art is for everyone.

During our time at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, we had the opportunity to hear directly from Director and CEO Alex Nyerges about how VMFA brings that belief to life.

As he shared, VMFA is the only art museum in the U.S. that offers free admission 365 days a year. By removing financial barriers and cultivating one of the most diverse curatorial teams in the nation, the museum works to ensure more people see themselves reflected in its galleries — while also introducing Richmond to artistic legacies from around the world.

Access goes beyond opening the doors.

It is about creating space for connection, representation, and shared cultural experience.

What does “art is for everyone” mean in practice for your organization?

Big cultural ideas deserve thoughtful exploration.We are honored to be working with the Cultural Alliance of Western Con...
04/21/2026

Big cultural ideas deserve thoughtful exploration.

We are honored to be working with the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut on a feasibility process that looks closely at what is possible for the region — and what is sustainable for the long term.

Feasibility is about more than projections and plans. It is about listening carefully to community priorities, understanding organizational readiness, and asking clear questions before moving forward.

This work is supported by a strong team of partners, including Venue Cost Consulting, Mills + Schnoering Architects, and The Giving Collaborative — each bringing expertise that strengthens the process.

Strong cultural projects begin with clarity.

What questions do you think are most important to explore in a feasibility study?

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