At two meetings in 1998 and 1999, participants identified potential connections between for-profit and not-for-profit arts. Benefits of collaboration between these two include shared risk and resources, development of niche audiences, increased nurturing of emerging talent, and development of new technology for dissemination.

"This Assembly occasioned a fresh thinking through of the potential connections between the generally separate realms of for-profit and not-for-profit and has shaped the many corporate connections my own institution has developed subsequently.  In 1998, when the meeting was held, those connections were still largely voluntary.  In the current, weakened economy, they have become indispensible." 
--Steven Lavine, President, California Institute of the Arts