More and more, community festivals, performing and visual arts, and cultural events are capturing the public
interest, making arts and cultural programming an increasingly important part of the leisure and recreation, hospitality,
museum, and tourism industries. As arts and cultural opportunities expand, programmers can look to Arts and Cultural
Programming: A Leisure Perspective to acquire skills to build their audiences and position their programs for success.
This is the first book that covers options in arts and cultural programming from a leisure standpoint. It draws
on current knowledge of leisure programming strategies for small, medium-sized, and large organizations in a variety
of settings, including community recreation, community and cultural arts, nonprofit organizations, hospitality,
tourism, public relations, and event management. The book uses terms and ideas from the leisure and recreation
fields, making it easy for even those with little knowledge of arts and cultural programming to design, plan, manage,
and evaluate events.
Complete with chapters written by experts in leisure programming and arts administration and edited by field authorities
Gaylene Carpenter and Douglas Blandy, this unique book offers new perspectives on the possiblities of arts and
cultural experiences. Arts and Cultural Programming: A Leisure Perspective progresses from theory to general program
management and then to specific program considerations. It offers :
guidance in the planning process, from needs assessment and strategic planning through the implementation of
specific events
practical advice on topics such as finding your audience, budgeting, recruitingvolunteers, and marketing your
event
descriptions of the tasks and functions required for programming success, making it easy to plan for appropriate
staffing through the entire event planning process
recommendations for working with musicians, performers, dancers, and other participants involved in your event
examples of best practices and current programs, from the conventional to the innovative, exposing you to a
variety of programming options while allowing you to choose what works best for your community
a chapter each on festivals, special events, community arts, cultural programs, museums, and performing arts
with case studies and examples from actual organizations so you can see what is working for other professionals
and their patrons
a discussion of trends and challenges in the field, enabling you to proactively plan for the future of your
program
The book is firmly grounded in leisure programming theory, but it still contains the most important terminology
and provides a basic understanding of the arts so that you can become comfortable working with events in those
fields. The authors provide step-by-step application of basic theory and approaches to designing and implementing
one-time events, annual or seasonal events, and yearlong programs. You'll be able to use this knowledge to move
confidently beyond the examples found in this book toward programming events that fulfill the needs of your community.
Enliven your next arts or cultural venture with the practical tips and innovative case studies found in Arts and
Cultural Programming: A Leisure Perspective, and use its foundational theory and guidance to help you succeed in
the burgeoning field of programming for arts and culture.