The Upswell Forum is designed to accelerate the impact of social entrepreneurs moving their organizations from start-up to growth phase, with a focus on organizations serving communities of color in Atlanta, Boston, Houston, and Detroit. ShowUp, based in Boston, participated in this year’s Upswell cohort. Christine O’Donnell, founder, Board Chair and Executive Director of ShowUp, shares her reflections on the Upswell Forum.
Tell us about ShowUp and the community you serve.
ShowUp is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the visual arts and supporting artists. We operate an art gallery in Boston’s South End, presenting a year-round calendar of curated exhibitions, community-building events, and learning workshops. Our core focus is on supporting talented artists whose work is often underrepresented within traditional exhibition spaces due to systemic barriers. Our mission is to connect artists, amplify their voices, provide them with practical tools, and empower artists and curators to experiment and grow within the arts community.
During our exhibitions, we work closely with artists to identify learning opportunities and areas for measurable growth. We engage with artists 12 to 18 months prior to an exhibition, continuing through the exhibition and follow-up. Our collaborative process provides artists with experience and tools—such as curatorial contacts, media exposure, an expanded network, an updated resume, and an honorarium—to help them navigate future professional opportunities effectively.
What inspired you to participate in the Upswell Forum?
As a Boston-area native with M.A.s in both Teaching and Art History, I’ve long considered further education in administration. The opportunity to access the extensive knowledge base at Harvard Business School through the Upswell Forum, without committing to a third degree, felt like a remarkable fit. Furthermore, the program’s direct focus on supporting leaders within underrepresented communities deeply resonated with ShowUp’s mission. It presented a valuable pathway to ensure we are leveraging every available resource to foster success for our board, staff, and the artists we serve.
What was it like to learn alongside other social impact leaders and hear directly from HBS faculty? Were there any standout takeaways from those experiences?
It’s challenging to pinpoint a single transformative moment, as every class session meaningfully contributed to ShowUp’s journey. Our organization is currently at a critical juncture, exploring its strategic direction for the next five years. Brian Trelstad’s sessions on Systems Change were particularly valuable in this context. As ShowUp’s founder, my role involves strategically building the organization. This requires understanding not only our organization but also its place within the local and national arts landscape and the role the creative arts plays in the broader economy.
Asking the right questions and addressing the right challenges (a concept amplified in Monique Burns Thompson’s thought-provoking sessions) remain ongoing priorities. The case study method and group work facilitated real-world applications, broadening our perspectives and enriching my team with valuable insights. I am eternally grateful to the individuals from other organizations who became such valuable advisors and thought partners during the Forum.
Was there a moment or insight from the Forum that impacted you?
The Forum consistently challenged me to approach ShowUp’s mission and execution with a more strategic and critical eye. As the nonprofit naturally evolved from a commercial gallery, and recruited people from traditional nonprofits, we had often "fallen into" procedures and mindsets without much consideration. The Forum prompted me to ask 'why' we were doing things a certain way. For instance, our session on fundraising encouraged us to examine the value of large fundraising events, like galas, through the lens of the "cost of raising a dollar." Before that class, I had been overly focused on producing a gala for ShowUp as both a fundraising and marketing tool. However, I was overlooking an assessment of potential outcomes and return on investment. The “cost of raising a dollar” moment truly stopped me in my tracks, and prompted me to question not only our fundraising approach but also to step back and wonder what other preconceived notions, assumptions, or outdated information I might have been holding onto.
How has the experience shaped your leadership or vision for ShowUp?
The Upswell Forum has provided validation and clarity for my leadership and vision for ShowUp. Spending time in person with inspiring leaders from Boston, Atlanta, Houston, and Detroit, all of whom it seemed faced both familiar and unique challenges, was encouraging. Our conversations, case studies, guest speakers, and the professors all illustrated for me that ShowUp’s struggles (mission drift, strategic board recruitment, cost of fundraising) are not unique, but rather shared concerns for many nonprofits and business leaders. Learning and working together helped me see that flexibility and resilience are key skills for a nonprofit and its leaders, and that one’s network and community are always a good place to turn to in challenging times or when in need of support or advice.
What’s next for ShowUp?
First of all, hopefully more meetings with our amazing HBS alumna mentor, Nina Henderson Moore. I’d like to take a moment to honor Nina, who has already been incredibly generous with her knowledge and time. Truly, the right people come into your life at the right time!
For ShowUp, we are currently asking many questions and thoughtfully considering how best to support artists and Boston’s creative community. The art world is constantly evolving, so we are deeply engaged in strategic thinking (drawing heavily on the valuable knowledge gained at Upswell). We have exciting shows planned for the second half of 2025 with the Safarani Sisters multimedia exhibition, Submerged in Time (opening August 3rd, 2025) followed by a group show of Indigenous artists curated by Nayana LaFond, (Ontario Métis) entitled Between Two Worlds: Making Sense of Modern Life from Indigenous Perspectives, opening October 3rd, 2025. We will also be a programming partner at October’s Affordable Art Fair in Boston on October 23rd to 26th - their first edition in the city, with an exciting exhibition honoring a Boston landmark planned.
HBS Social Enterprise Initiative is now accepting interest forms for the January 2026 cohort on a rolling basis until December 1, 2025. To learn more about the Upswell Forum and submit an interest form, visit our page here.
