Curtains?: The Future of the Arts in America

by Michael M. Kaiser

Overview

In this clear-minded but sobering book, Michael M. Kaiser assesses the current state of arts institutions—orchestras; opera, ballet, modern dance, and theater companies; and even museums. According to Kaiser, new developments in the twenty-first century, including the Internet explosion, the death of the recording industry, the near-death of subscriptions, economic instability, the focus on STEM education in schools, the introduction of movie-theater opera, the erosion of newspapers, the threat to serious arts criticism, and the aging of the donor base have together created tremendous challenges for all arts organizations. Using Michael Porter’s model of industry structure to describe how industries evolve, Kaiser argues persuasively that unless steps are taken now, midsized performing arts institutions will have all but evaporated by 2035. Only the largest arts organizations will survive, with tickets priced for the very wealthy and programming limited to the most popular and lucrative productions. Kaiser concludes with a call to arms. With three extraordinary decades’ experience as an arts administrator behind him, he advocates passionately for risk-taking in programming and more creative marketing, and details what needs to happen now—building strong donor bases, creating effective boards, and collective action—to sustain the performing arts for generations to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781611687040
Publisher:	Brandeis University Press
Publication date:	01/23/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	145
Sales rank:	711,928
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

MICHAEL M. KAISER is president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and author of The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations and Leading Roles: 50 Questions Every Arts Board Should Ask. BRETT E. EGAN, director of the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Center, leads training, planning, and consulting initiatives in the United States and abroad.

Table of Contents

Preface • America the Beautiful: The Arts Explosion, 1950–2000 • To Have and Have Not: The Arts in the Twenty-first Century (to Date) • Brave New World Part I: The Arts in America in 2035 • Brave New World, Part II: How Industries Evolve • An Alternate Universe: Toward a Brighter Future—Or Not • Acknowledgments

What People are Saying About This

Terrence McNally

“No one knows more about arts administration than Michael Kaiser. No wonder people the world over clamor for his attention and keen advice.”

Editorial Reviews

While a critical statement to the field at a critical time, Curtains? has plenty for anyone curious about what gets on stage, what doesn’t, and why. If you ever looked up in an orchestra hall and marveled at all of the missing bodies, you will find this a satisfying read. In a single, compelling 145-page breath, Kaiser clears up the mystery and remains one of the few who doesn’t stint on the gory details.”—Philadelphia Inquirer


"Kaiser’s marketing ideas are commonsensical rather than groundbreaking: Develop a coherent strategy to focus the use of new technologies like e-mail and social media; sell the institution to donors as well as tickets to individuals; partner with public schools to provide the arts education that nurtures art appreciation. Of particular interest to the leaders of struggling companies will be his detailed thoughts on building more supportive and effective boards containing members with a broad range of expertise, background and even income levels. Only with such diverse and active boards, he contends, can arts organizations do the long-range planning necessary to survive in today’s challenging environment.” —Washington Post


"In some ways, the cultural future Kaiser describes reflects other social and economic trends. Just as wealth and power are increasingly concentrated amongst a shrinking number of powerful individuals and corporations, he sees a few famous mega-institutions dominating what’s left of the arts landscape, sucking up the talent and attention, catering to the wealthy who can underwrite their productions and afford their tickets. As the number of small and mid-size groups shrinks, he predicts, so will the ethnic diversity and artistic experimentation that brings us the next defining trend or great artist, since the mega-troupes will have to appeal to the widest possible audience (at least in their online, mass offerings.)” —Miami Herald


"Kaiser’s thin book is pragmatic, structured and thick with facts, ideas and anecdotes, including telling and knowing observations about technology."—The Georgetowner


“Recommended.”—Choice


“In his new book, former Kennedy Center impresario Michael Kaiser argues that the future of the arts lies with quality, subsidy, and daring—all of which are in dangerously short supply.”—American Theatre

From the Publisher

02/01/2015
During his career, Kaiser (Leading Roles) has revived multiple struggling arts institutions, including while in his current position as president of the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. In the author's fifth book about arts management, he contends that such turnarounds will be nearly impossible in the future without proactive, drastic steps to ensure quality programming and marketing. There is little question that he is an insightful administrator, and the general strategies he outlines here remain practical even as he advocates for the need to take risks. Nevertheless, Kaiser is overly repetitive, and his observations outside of the performing arts are often stilted in prose, particularly when he is discussing younger people. Moreover, given the author's strong background in economics research, the decision to largely forego citations is a curious one, especially since they would bolster his overall argument. Often thin in content despite its modest length, Kaiser's latest includes recommendations that would probably have stood out more within the context of an article-length study. VERDICT Managers and board members of performing arts organizations will benefit most from the points Kaiser presents here.—Chris Martin, North Dakota State Univ. Libs., Fargo

Library Journal