J.L. Nave, III, Principal

With nearly three decades of experience in arts leadership, J.L. Nave, III, has become a leading expert in revenue growth and audience strategy for performing arts organizations. As the founder and principal of Nave Strategies, he helps small and mid-sized orchestras, theatres, and arts centers translate data into action—simplifying complex challenges and producing measurable, lasting results.

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J.L.’s work bridges insight from major institutions with a deep commitment to the realities of smaller teams. His client list includes organizations such as the Buffalo Philharmonic, Delaware Theatre Company, Everyman Theatre, Greenville Symphony, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Nashville Ballet, Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Yavapai College’s Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center.

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Across his portfolio, J.L. has helped clients achieve multi-year growth in fixed subscriptions, expand the number of households reached within their communities, and strengthen loyalty among both audiences and donors. His approach combines strategic clarity with data-driven precision and a deep respect for capacity—ensuring that even the smallest teams can implement and sustain meaningful change.

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Before founding Nave Strategies, J.L. served for 15 years as chief executive of the Baton Rouge Symphony and Fort Wayne Philharmonic, where he led major audience recovery and community engagement initiatives. That firsthand leadership experience continues to shape his consulting work, grounding every recommendation in practical understanding of what it takes to deliver results inside resource-constrained environments.

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In addition to his consulting practice, J.L. teaches in Indiana University’s graduate program in Arts Administration, where he helps emerging professionals build the analytical and strategic skills that drive results. His teaching and advisory work have extended internationally, most recently through a multi-year partnership with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in New Zealand.

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Through Nave Strategies, J.L. champions the idea that small and mid-sized arts organizations can achieve the same strategic sophistication and revenue growth as the largest institutions—when given the right tools, focus, and support. His work continues to prove that with clarity, discipline, and data, these organizations can not only compete but thrive.