If you use the Firefox web browser as I do, you may have noticed links on the Google search page that take you to the community they have built around the “fire foxes” (red pandas) they adopted at the Knoxville Zoo. Or a link informing you that the next version of their web browser is code named Tumucumaque after the Brazilian national park that Mozilla is supporting in partnership with the World Wildlife Federation.

My initial, and admittedly, cynical reaction is that this smells a little bit like greenwashing. Though as an open source and non-profit project, Mozilla can weather the suspicions and pessimism a little easier than most.

Since people do respond to these efforts if they feel they are sincerely done, it occurred to me that connections like this on the local level might be a win-win for non-profit arts organizations and those with whom they partner. Such an effort could bring positive attention to both organizations. Partner with an observatory to dedicate your season to a newly discovered star or planetary body. Adopt students at schools/boys and girls club/future farmers of America chapter you already work with to present a “Student of the Month” where the student’s art work is on display on your website or in your lobby.

You could even duplicate the code name route and turn the T.B.A. listing in your season brochure into the focus of intrigue and speculation. Having it connected with a partner organization may help you avoid spending more time thinking up clever code names than you did in season selection.

If you start a partnership with a local science museum, just be sure to vet any suggestions they may make thoroughly. You don’t want to end up advertising Project Nematode just because one of the scientists thinks they are the coolest critters around. Theatres have enough parasitic worms associated with them already!