This book explores and critiques different aspects of arts leadership within contemporary contexts. While this is an exploration of ways arts leadership is understood, interpreted and practiced, it is also an acknowledgement of a changing cultural and economic paradigm. Understanding the broader environment for the arts is therefore part of the leadership imperative. This book examines aspects such as individual versus collective leadership, gender, creativity and the influences of stakeholders and culture. While the book provides a theoretical and critical understanding of arts leadership, it also gives examples of arts leadership in practice.

The contemporary world faces unprecedented upheaval and change forcing institutions of all types to rethink how they are designed and how they must now function if they are to survive into an uncertain future. The performing arts are no exception; in an era of constant change and technological transformation, arts organizations and their leaders face significant organizational challenges if they are to maintain their relevance. Arts Leadership: Creating Sustainable Arts Organizations provides a contemporary overview of the field of arts leadership, focused on the performing arts. It examines what these challenges are, how they are affecting the performing arts and arts organizations in general and proposes creative ways to reimagine, build and lead sustainable arts organizations in this uncharted environment. With a global perspective drawn from his extensive experience advising arts organizations around the world and based on his own work successfully leading important performing arts organizations in the United States, Foster proposes an innovative approach to organizational design, systems, and structures for arts leaders in the 21st century that is based in ecological thinking and the creative process that is intrinsic to the arts. In disrupting conventional arts leadership practice, the book provides an exceptional tool to understand a unique sector, and is essential reading for students and practitioners across the creative and cultural industries.

An edited collection of international case studies discussing approaches to arts leadership and management. Based on research by the different contributors, it can be used both as a critical text in arts management education as well as an academic reference.

What do cultural leaders really think about the problems they, and the arts and cultural sector, face? This book brings global leaders in the cultural field into dialogue with academics and experts to offer profound insight and perspectives on the complex issues the cultural sector faces in a rapidly accelerating and destabilising twenty-first century context. The book engages directly with leaders in the arts and cultural sector, bridging the gap between academia, policy and practice. Each chapter sheds new light on national cultural policy contexts, offering different perspectives on arts subsidy, audiences, the cultural workforce, heritage, artform development and how cultural leadership functions in a fast-changing local, national and international context. Interviews are conducted by academics and experts with significant knowledge and understanding of the arts management and cultural policy field, who ask critical and probing questions. Featuring interviews with an impressively international range of senior figures from the cultural sector, from the Royal Opera House, BMW, Bloomberg and Onassis Foundation and covering countries including the UK, Germany, Chile, Singapore, Greece, USA, Serbia and Ireland, the book gives a truly global overview of cultural leadership from leaders who are open to question, critique and challenge. Each chapter offers a unique and fascinating insight into the mind of a leader in their field, with their experience ranging from huge participatory events featuring tens of thousands of people to the visual arts, opera, the Turner Prize and the #blacklivesmatter movement. This book will be essential reading for reflective cultural leaders around the world, as well as a useful resource for students and scholars involved with arts and cultural management and policy.

This textbook provides an expert overview of the challenge of arts and cultural leadership in the contemporary world. Grounded in theories of sustainability and with a renewed global focus for this second edition, the author’s insights from contemporary arts organizations facilitate meaningful student comprehension. Drawing on the work of practitioners and theorists in the fields of philosophy, biology, and ecology as well as the arts, Foster proposes a rethinking of organizational design, strategy, and structure that is based on ecological concepts and the creative process that is intrinsic to the arts rather than the conventional business model that currently prevails, particularly in western arts and culture organizations. He contests conventional thinking about arts administration and management and urges arts leaders to foreground innovation as they reimagine their organizations for a world unlike any other. New sections include an enhanced theoretical discussion as well as new material on business models, strategy, and organizational design and practice. Applicable to any arts organization, the entrepreneurial focus is especially relevant in the aftermath of the global pandemic, the ongoing climate crisis, and the quest for democracy and social justice. This updated edition will be a valuable resource both for present-day arts and cultural leaders who are working to adapt to the current environment as well as students and future leaders who aspire to make change in the world through arts and cultural leadership.

Australian governments at all levels have been engaged with arts and culture in many different forms since the beginning of European settlement. The way this has occurred is documented and analysed here, both from an historical and critical perspective. Changing understandings of culture and the significance of Indigenous Culture to Australia receive special attention. While the focus is primarily directed to Federal Government engagement, there is also consideration paid to both state and local government involvement. There is attention paid to the censorship of arts practice by governments as well as the direct interventions by politicians in arts practice. Different approaches to the arts by governments are also considered, as well as attempts to develop a national cultural policy. The impact of the recent pandemic is addressed and various research reports about the arts sector and its relationship with government are also noted. There is then a final discussion about some issues that governments could address in the future, that might ensure a more sustainable Australian arts sector. This book will be of particular interest to scholars of contemporary arts, arts management, cultural history, public policy and cultural policy. It may also interest bureaucrats and politicians.

"Anchoring the book are eleven tried and true chapters providing principles and best practices for managing and governing community arts organizations; raising funds; and presenting, promoting, and evaluating arts programs. Four new chapters cover fundamentals of personnel management, writing successful funding proposals, advocating effectively for the arts, and maximizing the arts' role in the economic development of communities. Nationally recognized leaders and authors in the community arts field offer historical and contemporary context regarding the role of the arts in community, as well as insights about arts education and cultural access--two important dimensions of local arts agencies' work. Also new are Online Companions to several chapters. Easily accessed Online Companions offer expanded exploration of subject matter; worksheets and other practical tools that can be downloaded and used or adapted; and valuable resource listings that point to organizations, publications, and websites."--From publisher description.