1. Accelerator Program – Phase I
Beneficiary:
Grant Term:
04/2011 – 03/2012
Contact:
Bevin Bering Dubrowski
Executive Director
bevin@hcponline.org
713-529-4755 x 13
www.hcponline.org

2. Mission and Vision
MISSION
Houston Center for Photography's mission is to
increase society's understanding and appreciation of
photography and its evolving role in contemporary
culture. HCP strives to encourage artists, build
audiences, stimulate dialogue, and promote inquiry
about photography and related media through
education, exhibitions, publications, fellowship
programs, and community collaborations.
VISION
Houston Center for Photography exists to
Connect People with Photography.
This is accomplished through exhibitions of,
competitions for, and publications about
contemporary photography, as well as education in
all aspects of photography.
Public Lecture at HCP with
Collector WM Hunt

3. Use of Funds
Funding for Accelerator Phase 1 will be used towards
the creation of a multi-year strategic plan.
Consultant Selection
• HCP first reached out to peer non-profit groups for
recommendations. Joe Synan of Leadingwell
Associates received excellent reviews from Executive
Director of the Houston Center for Contemporary
Craft and Lawndale Art Center. HCP also recognized
that Joe Synan is listed on the Houston Arts Alliance
recommendation board
• HCP scheduled an interview with Joe Synan.
• HCP’s Executive Director conducted a phone
interview with Sterling and Associates.
• HCP’s Executive Director and [then] Board
president interviewed Dini Partners.
• Executive Director and [then] Board President
recommended Joe Synan to the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors approved the hiring of Joe
Synan.
Planning Process
• Executive Director, Board President, and
Consultant Joe Synan established goals for
Strategic Planning process
• Consultant led HCP staff in a retreat to be sure
that staff goals and concerns were addressed in
strategic planning process
• Staff and Board prepared for Board of Directors
Retreat by answering surveys and discussing ideas
during Board and Executive Committee meetings
• Board of Directors Retreat established content for
Strategic Plan
• Strategic Plan was formatted and edited by
Consultant, Staff, and Board of Directors, then
approved by Board of Directors
• Strategic Plan becomes living, working document
to guide decisions and goals of the organizations

4. Goal 1: Exhibitions
Objectives:
• Increase on-site audience numbers by
10% each year*
• Increase e-newsletter frequency*
• Publish 6 month exhibition
calendar*
• Increase social media presence*
• Create more educational tactics*
• HCP uses QR codes and OnCell to
provide electronic docents of
each exhibition*
• Stagger exhibition opening dates
• Increase Learning Center Gallery traffic
• Maintain free admission to the public*
• Offer 1 “blockbuster” exhibition each
year*
Exhibition Opening Reception –
November 17, 2012
* Denotes objectives to address in the next 12 months.

5. Goal 2: Competitions
Objectives:
• Create recognizable prize
• Increase prize to $5,000*
(from $2,000)
• Increased prize to $2,500 in 2012
• Fellowship recipients teach an HCP Master Class
• Have nationally recognized jurors*
• 2012 Fellowship Juror – Christopher
Rauschenberg, Blue Sky Gallery,
Portland, Oregon
• 2012 Membership Exhibition Juror –
Anne Wilkes Tucker, Gus and Lyndall
Wortham Curator of Photography,
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
• Increase number of applicants to 500 for each
competition*
• Use callsforentry.org (online
submission process) to increase
number of applicants*
2012 HCP Fellowship recipient Isa Leshko in conversation
with Juror Christopher Rauschenberg
* Denotes objectives to address in the next 12 months.
2012 Carol Crow Memorial Fellowship recipient David Politzer in
conversation with Juror Christopher Rauschenberg

6. Goal 3: Education
Objectives:
• Enhance workshop quality*
• Comprehensive curriculum has
been developed and will be
implemented in Sept 2012*
• Expand educational services*
• HCP has developed a curriculum
for teen classes and workshops
• HCP now offers summer camps
for young photographers (ages
10 -16)
• Implement alternative delivery methods
• Attract well-known instructors
• Establish instructor evaluation and
training*
HCP Intern, artist, and HCP staff gather
during HCP’s First Tuesday program
* Denotes objectives to address in the next 12 months.
Students in HCP’s computer-based class

7. Goal 4: Publications
Objectives:
• Re-evaluate presentation of information in
Spot*
• Spot is now presented in an
interview format
• Expand distribution of Spot (paper)
• Research alternative delivery
methods
• Expand distribution of Spot (electronic)
• Develop online/mobile
applications to supplement paper
version
• Increase page count to 64 pages per issue
(currently at 48 pages)
• Research renaming/rebranding “Spot”*
• Decision has been made to
maintain the name of Spot
Cover of Spot
Left - Fall 2011; Right - Spring 2012
* Denotes objectives to address in the next 12 months.

8. Goal 5: Membership
Objectives:
• Increase HCP’s membership base to 2,500
(from 1,365 – previous organizational
high)*
• HCP had 1,600 members on April
30, 2012
• Have a 70% retention rate of members
• On April 30, 2012 – HCP’s
renewal rate was 54%
Students in HCP Member-only Master Classes
Top – With Joni Sternbach;
Bottom – With Dan Burkholder
* Denotes objectives to address in the next 12 months.
© Joni Sternbach

9. Keys to Success
1. The Board and Staff are literally on the
same page in regards to goals and
priorities.
2. The Strategic Plan provides a guiding
compass for all major decisions.
3. The Strategic Plan allows HCP to
communicate its goals to the community
and funders in a more efficient manner.
4. Thanks to the Strategic Plan, HCP has
grown tremendously over the past year
and is primed to move forward with the
major goals outlined in the Strategic Plan.
HCP Staff

10. Lessons Learned
• This process ran incredibly smoothly and
we plan to repeat similar steps in the
future.
• We recommend hiring a consultant that
will work as a team member with the staff
and Board of Directors. We recommend
getting the Board of Directors excited
about the process early on and treating
the process as an opportunity.
• Staff meeting and Board of Directors
meetings now focus on the goals set forth
in the Strategic Plan. Please see HCP’s
Strategic Plan for organizational goals for
the next 5 years.
A living, working document

11. Summary of Future Plans
• HCP’s Board of Directors attended the annual
Board Retreat on April 27 – 28, 2012.
• At this Retreat, the approved strategic plan
was evaluated and amended to add a fifth
year.
• HCP plans to continue to add to the Strategic
Plan each year so there is always a five-year plan
for the organization.
• HCP Board of Directors receive a Fact Pack at
each Retreat containing in depth information on
the organization as a whole. Board and
Committee members use this information
throughout the year to stay informed on the
organization as a whole and how each program
interacts with the others.
• HCP staff, Board of Directors, and Committee
Chairs will continue to report on the goals set
forth in the Strategic Plan to maintain forward
momentum in the organization striving to
achieve those goals.
HCP Staff – November 3, 2011