Alan Brown is a leading researcher and management consultant in the nonprofit arts industry. As a principal of WolfBrown, his work focuses on understanding consumer demand for cultural experiences and on helping institutions, funders and agencies see new opportunities, make informed decisions and respond to changing conditions. Prior to joining with Tom Wolf and Bill Keens as a partner in WolfBrown, Alan served as principal of Alan S. Brown & Associates (2003 to 2006) and as President of Audience Insight LLC and Associate Principal of AMS Planning & Research Corp. (1990 to 2003), where he studied audiences, visitors and patterns of cultural participation in almost every major market in the U.S.

From 2000 to 2002, he directed the Classical Music Consumer Segmentation Study for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and 15 orchestras, the largest private study of classical music audiences ever undertaken in the U.S. In 2003, he designed and facilitated The Values Study, a groundbreaking participatory research project involving teams of board and staff members from 20 Connecticut arts organizations working in the fields of dance, theatre, classical music and visual arts. Based on this work, Alan was called upon to assist The Wallace Foundation in planning its dissemination efforts for Gifts of the Muse, a study of the benefits of arts activities conducted by RAND.

At AMS/Audience Insight, Alan authored three publications for the National Endowment for the Arts: American Participation in Theater (1995, Seven Lochs Press), A Practical Guide to Arts Participation Research (1995), and Summary Report: 12 Local Surveys of Public Participation in the Arts (1993).

Within the past two years, Alan has directed proprietary studies for Disney Theatrical Productions, the Brooklyn Museum, The Joyce Theater, the Aspen Music Festival and the University Musical Society, among others. Currently, he is leading a consortium of 15 major university presenters in a groundbreaking study of the values and motivations driving attendance and donation. In 2007, he will lead a study of cultural engagement in two inland regions of California for the James Irvine Foundation.

Alan has directed numerous strategic planning assignments and feasibility studies for major new arts facilities and programs in New York, California, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, and Ohio, with a focus on operations planning and organizational design. As a facilitator, he has supported many board meetings, retreats, expert panels, industry roundtables, and public meetings. In 2003, he facilitated the annual retreat of the board, staff and musicians of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and in 2005 led a series of regional roundtables on the future role of artists in society for Interlochen Center for the Arts. Currently, he is leading public value audits for Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, and for VocalEssence in Minneapolis.

Designing and evaluating collaborative marketing programs is another focus of Alan's work. He assisted in the development of new cooperative cultural marketing initiatives in Charlotte, Philadelphia, Detroit and San Jose, and serves as a resource to foundations and arts agencies on this emerging business practice.

Prior to joining AMS in 1990, Alan served for five years as Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, a multi-discipline performing arts presenter in Michigan. He holds three degrees from the University of Michigan: a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Music in Arts Administration and a Bachelor of Musical Arts in vocal performance. Alan makes his home in Fairfield, Connecticut with a Yellow Labrador Retriever named Golden Brown.