1st Edition

Strategic Decision Making in the Arts Case Studies in Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship

By Gary D. Beckman, Karl Androes Copyright 2025
    336 Pages 15 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    336 Pages 15 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    For entrepreneurs in the creative fields, decision making is both a necessity and an art. Applying creativity to strategic decisions requires skills developed over time. This textbook provides arts entrepreneurship students a series of case studies centering on decision-making models applicable to launching and sustaining arts businesses.

    Each case set in the book focuses on a particular arts entrepreneur within the context of a range of creative businesses, from performance to videography. To facilitate classroom adoption, the authors provide expert guidance on getting the most from case-study-based learning. Additional features include insights into the key decision-making models in each case, analysis by a leader in the arts entrepreneurship education field on the factors forcing a decision, and a broad view on the arts ecologies surrounding each example.

    Suitable for students in arts management programs as well, this book introduces readers to case-based learning via practical examples that give students insight into strategic decision-making in the creative industries.

    Extensive teaching notes are available for instructors. To gain access, visit www.routledge.com/9781032539577.

    Part I: Introduction 1: The Importance of Decision Making 2: Decision-Making Models and Groups 3: Understanding and Engaging Case Studies 4: From Decision Models to Arts Cases Case Set 1: A Rural Videography Business 5: Case 1a: Freelancer or Agency? 6: Case 1b: Fall on your Sword or Blame the Client? 7: Case 1c: Wind Down or Ramp Up? Case Set 2: The Case of the Entrepreneurial Actor 8: Case 2a: Ready for the Big Leagues? 9: Case 2b: How to get the Dream Gig? 10: Case 2c: Go for the Money or the Art? Case Set 3: From Musician to Executive Director 11: Case 3a: Trombone or Non-Profit? 12: Case 3b: Mayor Daley takes Over 13: Case 3c: Hire Artists or Teachers? 14: Case 3d: Spanish Version or Not? Case Set 4: A Fashion Artist Responds 15: Case 4a: Quit your Day Job? 16: Case 4b: Do the Right Thing? 17: Case 4c: How to Retain Employees?

    Biography

    Gary D. Beckman is Director of Entrepreneurial Studies in the Arts at North Carolina State University, USA.

    Karl Androes is co-founder of Whirlwind Performance Company, which became Reading In Motion, in Chicago.