Small Arts Organizations: Supporting Their Creative Vitality
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Small Arts Organizations: Supporting their Creative Vitality DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Woong Jo Chang Graduate Program in Art Education The Ohio State University 2011 Dissertation Committee: Margaret J. Wyszomirski, Ph.D., Advisor, Chair Michael S. Camp, Ph.D. Clayton Funk, Ph.D. Wayne P. Lawson, Ph.D. Copyright by Woong Jo Chang 2011 Abstract Small arts organizations (SAOs) have not been studied in the field of cultural policy and arts administration, despite their purported importance. This dissertation is intended to identify ways to support the creative vitality of SAOs. To that end, it examines the dynamic ecology of SAOs, highlighting their significant role in the arts world. It explores SAOs‟ relationships particularly by looking at their entrepreneurial practices, use of IT, and their support systems. Conducting extensive personal communications with various agents involved with SAOs, this study incorporates Multiple Case Narratives on selected SAOs in Columbus, Ohio and cross-references them with an in-depth case study on a local small theatre. The findings indicate that SAOs‟ entrepreneurial practices and their effective use of technology are crucial for stabilizing the balance between their mission and money, thus enhancing their creative vitality. Finally, implications are discussed, and recommendations are made to create cultural policy that is custom tailored for SAOs. ii Dedication To my parents, Hyung Tae Chang and Yong Ja Shin, my wife, Ji Young Kim, and my sons, Luke and Mark Chang. iii Acknowledgments I wish to thank my professors at the Ohio State University, Dr. Margaret Wyszomirski and Dr. Wayne Lawson in the Arts Policy and Administration Program, Dr. Clayton Funk in the Department of Art Education, and Dr. Michael Camp in the Center for the Entrepreneurship, for their expert advice and feedback throughout the research and writing of this dissertation. I am also grateful to the many individuals in and outside of the small arts organizations that I researched, who shared their time, knowledge, and experiences with me in the process of exploring this subject. iv Vita February 1995 ................ Daewon Foreign Language High 2002................................ B.A. Chinese Language & Literature, Seoul National University 2004................................ M.A. Performing Arts Studies, Seoul National University 2005 ~ 2009 ................... Graduate Teaching Associate, Department of Art Education, The Ohio State University 2011 ~ present ................ Barnett Fellow, Department of Art Education, The Ohio State University Publications Chang, W. (2010). How “Small” Are Small Arts Organizations?. The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society, 40(3), 217-234. Chang, W. (2011). A Lesson From an Organic Farm: Cultivating Cultural Policy for Small Arts Organizations. The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society, 41(3), 212-215. Fields of Study Major Field: Art Education Specialization: Arts Policy and Administration v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. iv Vita .......................................................................................................................................v List of Tables .......................................................................................................................x List of Figures .................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................ 3 1.2.1 Size Does Matter ................................................................................................ 4 1.2.3 Missing Data on SAOs ....................................................................................... 8 1.3 Objectives of the Study and Research Questions ............................................ 9 1.4 Research Design ............................................................................................ 11 1.5 Significance of the Study ............................................................................... 13 1.6 Limitation of the Study .................................................................................. 14 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ...................................................................................15 2.1 Ecology .......................................................................................................... 16 2.1.1 Ecology of Small Arts Organizations ............................................................... 19 2.1.2 Support Systems in the Ecology of Small Arts Organizations ......................... 23 2.2 Creative Vitality ............................................................................................ 26 2.2.1 The Creative Vitality Index .............................................................................. 27 2.2.2 The Cultural Vitality of a Community and the Creative Vitality of an SAO ............. 28 2.3 Entrepreneurship ............................................................................................ 30 2.3.1 Social Entrepreneurship ................................................................................... 31 2.3.2 Entrepreneurship in the Arts ............................................................................. 33 2.4 Technology .................................................................................................... 37 2.4.1 Two Perspectives of Technology in our Society .............................................. 38 2.4.2 Technology in the Arts and in Arts Organizations ........................................... 41 2.4.3 Technology Adoption ....................................................................................... 55 2.5 Summary ........................................................................................................ 62 vi CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................64 3.1 Preliminary Study: Defining Small Arts Organizations ................................ 65 3.2 The Multiple Case Narrative: Mapping The Dynamic Nature of SAOs ........... 67 3.2.1 Semi-Structured Interviews .............................................................................. 68 3.2.2 Secondary Data: Documents and Observations ............................................... 72 3.3 The In-Depth Case Study – Understanding the Internal Dynamics of an SAO .......... 73 3.3.1 Non-Participant Observation and Semi-Structured Interviews ........................ 74 3.3.2 Virtual Ethnography ......................................................................................... 76 3.3.3 Complementary Quantitative Research Tools .................................................. 78 3.4 Amalgamation of the Multiple Case Narrative and the In-Depth Case Study .......... 80 CHAPTER 4 DEFINITIONS: HOW SMALL ARE SMALL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS? ..................82 4.1 How “Small” Is Small? ................................................................................. 83 4.1.1 The For-Profit Sector ........................................................................................ 84 4.1.2 The Non-Profit Sector ...................................................................................... 85 4.2 SAOs Defined By Various Disciplines ......................................................... 87 4.2.1 Theatre .............................................................................................................. 88 4.2.2 Orchestra .......................................................................................................... 90 4.2.3 Opera ................................................................................................................ 92 4.2.4 Dance ................................................................................................................ 93 4.2.5 Museum ............................................................................................................ 97 4.3 Cross-discipline Comparison Of Size And “Smallness” ................................ 98 4.4 Operational Definition of a Small Arts Organization .................................. 100 4.5 Summary ...................................................................................................... 101 CHAPTER 5 RECOGNIZING THE DIVERSITY OF SMALL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ..............102 5.1 A Brief Sketch of the Small Arts Organizations Included in this Research ............ 103 5.1.1 Available Light Theatre .................................................................................. 103 5.1.2 Columbus Landmarks Foundation ................................................................. 105