CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts said Wednesday the problems and the solutions for arts groups are the same in West Virginia as they are in New York or Washington, D.C.

"There's no difference," Michael Kaiser answered when asked if his methods for helping nationally known arts groups, such as the American Ballet Theatre, will work with organizations in West Virginia.

He shared his four basics for success as a nonprofit arts group -- wonderful programming, aggressive marketing, involved boards of directors and talented staffs -- with a standing-room-only crowd in the Walker Theater at the Clay Center Wednesday.

"If you do these things, you will build your family," Kaiser said, referring to his four basics. "That's where the health comes from. The financial stability follows."

On a 50-state tour to offer help to arts organizations, Kaiser's been dubbed the "turnaround king." He's helped make groups such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Royal Opera House viable in today's changing economy. He drew on his experiences with these groups to give suggestions to arts groups in the Mountain State.

David Wohl, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at West Virginia State University, moderated the interview-style forum.

Several West Virginia arts leaders were told what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. Kaiser praised the good and offered solutions for the not so good.

One issue many groups face is the "graying" of their boards as well as their audiences. Kaiser said board members can and should be asked to leave if they are not a good fit for the organization's current situation.

"Originally, at Alvin Ailey, we had board members sewing the costumes and working the box office. We have staff for that now. Those old board members are now the wrong board members," Kaiser said. They might be able to sew, but they can't raise money, he said.

"Keep them involved with the organization, tell them you need a different set of skills on the board, just not in a governing role," Kaiser said.

Audiences have been getting older for many years. Kaiser said there are two keys to getting young adults involved. They need to be introduced to the arts as children in school so they will have a foundation to come back to as adults, and arts organizations need to plan programming that draws the younger crowd.

At the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., social dancing classes drew huge crowds from nearby colleges and young professionals. Free performances brought in crowds because they made the facility seem more accessible.

"One problem we need to address is that kids today aren't getting arts in the public schools, so they won't become the donors and patrons in their 40s," Kaiser lamented. "Can you imagine if a kid came home and said, 'We're not doing math this year because the teacher doesn't like it?' We wouldn't let that happen, but we do it with the arts."

Kaiser said the stimulus money from the federal government aimed at producing jobs in the arts worries him.

"So many groups treat this money like a grant, and when they get a grant, they relax, they don't look for more money," Kaiser said. "I'm worried that the money and jobs are short-lived and will end without a plan for the future."

Planning is the key to success for any organization, and Kaiser stressed that he means very long-term goals. Long-range planning makes marketing, fundraising and staff involvement easier, he said, and it allows the artistic side of the organization to dream while giving the financial people time to make ends meet.

"Many groups have no long-term artistic planning," he said. "With a five-year plan, the art is better, and resources can be found."

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.