The Times They are a Changing. Cultural Governance in Austria, Germany and Switzerland and its Impact on the Performing Arts

Portmann, Alexandra; Zimmer, Anette; Nübel, Svea; Heskia, Thomas; Glesner, Julia; Quickert, Anja (May 2023). The Times They are a Changing. Cultural Governance in Austria, Germany and Switzerland and its Impact on the Performing Arts (Unpublished). In: Annual Conference DFG Krisengefüge der Künste: Theatre/Turning Points: Scenarios for the Future.

In recent years, governance has developed into a key approach for analyzing, steering, and evaluating cultural policies. As a concept of public administration, it stands for a hands-on participatory approach and encompasses the de-regulation of cultural institutions that are no longer thoroughly integrated into public administration. Instead, organized in a private legal form, they are independently managed organizations that must cope with increasingly complex environments with the goal of safeguarding their legitimacy and organizational survival.

Cultural governance impacts significantly the performing arts since they have been in the center of critique. This specifically holds true for Austria, Germany and parts of Switzerland. These countries stand out for a highly developed theatre scene and a comparatively high degree of public funding. But the performing arts as an area of cultural production have undergone a significant process of diversification. Many new initiatives have successfully moved out of amateurship. Simultaneously, due to individualization and heterogenization, “going to the theatre” has significantly lost attractiveness. The “theatre” is no longer “the only kid on the block”.

The panel analyses how and to what extent the new mode of governance impacts government-theatre relationships? What does de-regulation mean for a public theatre? Are there differences between the three countries? If and how does the legacy of history, specifically regional cultural policy traditions, come into play? Which are the common trends?

The panel will be introduced by the research team of Münster University which analyses cultural governance in publicly funded theatres in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The tour d´horizon will provide background information for a panel discussion in which four experts will take part. Dr. Alexandra Portmann will shed light on recent developments of the performing arts in Switzerland. As an important facet of the cultural and creative industry in Switzerland, the performing arts, similar to other areas of cultural production, are generously supported by private donations besides public subsidies. Cultural governance at an arm´s length principle looks back upon a long tradition in the country that might serve as a textbook-example for innovative and participatory cultural governance. Thomas Heskia will focus on the development of cultural policies in Austria. In particular, he will outline the trend of merging cultural institutions under a holding structure. It is questionable whether this approach to organizing the muse can be reconciled with participatory governance, or whether, on the contrary, it solidifies centralized control of cultural institutions. In any case, the practice of appointing supervisory board members directly by the minister strengthens existing networks and is fundamentally susceptible to corruption. Dr. Julia Glesner and Anja Quickert will, with a special eye on Germany, highlight the growing importance as a trend-setter and as a business-model of the so-called Freie Szene in Germany. The theatre venues and groups that still distance themselves from the more traditional venues, run by the municipalities or the regions (Länder) in Germany, have increasingly gained access and eligibility to public funding. It will be discussed if the highlighted trends are found in each of the three countries.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

0 since deposited on 28 Mar 2024
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item