The A to Z of Arts Management: Reflections on Theory and Reality

2016 | Art, Photography & Fashion

The world of arts management is a world of complexity and uncertainty, creativity and poverty, joy and frustration. But management itself is an art, not a science. You can't learn how to do it from a textbook, but what you can learn is to consider all the functions of a manager, and work out the most humanistic, thoughtful and effective way of doing them. The A to Z of Arts Management: Reflections on Theory and Reality is a reflection on all the topics that have been important to the author with over 30 years as a manager and leader in arts and cultural organisations. Some topics - like coffee or humour - are unlikely entries in a book on management. This book might just as easily have been called 'Arts Leadership' or 'Cultural Leadership' - or even 'Arts Administration'. The A to Z of Arts Management: Reflections on Theory and Reality is about storytelling and reflection. Sitting somewhere between theory and practice, it includes personal reflections and examples, in the hope that both students and those who are in the industry already doing the job might find illumination from both perspectives.

And if reading some of these stories and reflections causes you to consider your own practice and be inspired to try new things, to sort out 'stuff', to go back to study, or to find a mentor to help you improve, that's all that can be hoped for.

Ann Tonks (Author)