MA in Arts, Festival and Cultural Management
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/7195
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Item Ageism and the Invisibility of Older Age: A Study of Individual Perceptions of Age Characteristics in the Context of Scottish Film Festival Volunteer Management(2020)Framed by an interdisciplinary literature review, the purpose of this paper is to provide a first insight into the overlooked variable of age within diversification processes in the context of the workforce of the UK cultural sector, specifically volunteer management. For the purpose of this, qualitative analysis of face-to-face interviews and an online questionnaire are employed. Hypothesised invisibility of ageism and age in the arts and cultural sector is explored through individuals’ beliefs and perspectives. Based within a constructivist paradigm applying thematic analysis, temporalisation and stereotypical construction of older age – with cursory treatment of younger age – and the malleability of such construction in individuals are conceptualised. Possible tensions between perceived characteristics of older people and advantages of older volunteers are explored and invisible barriers are identified for older people on micro, meso, and macrolevel. Through a deconstructionist discussion, the findings, and recommendations of the research will be of interest to arts workers and managers in how non-cultural objectives, such as more age diverse workspaces, can open untapped resources of skills, professional experience, time and commitment. The insight sits within arts and cultural management for critical and holistic approaches, particularly, following sociologist Riley’s approach to reducing age discrimination, advocating structural progression in order to alleviate age discrimination and foster ageinclusion in the wider society.Item All for Arts and Arts for All: observations from a series of visual art workshops for young people(2020)The impact of arts education and its need for funding and resource provision is an ongoing debate in the UK. There is an established trend in awarding funding to organisations that deliver projects to young people with societal impacts. This dissertation reports and analyses the results of artistic participatory workshops on 11 to 13 year olds within Arbroath, Scotland in order to determine results for the participants, analyse the influence of the presence of an artist to deliver these workshops and form recommendations for how secondary school education, arts organisations and artists can work together effectively in future models. The research aims have been met through an extensive study of relevant literature and the in-person observation and analysis of a visual arts engagement project. This research produced a number of key findings: the result of participation in the visual arts project was a contribution to the young people’s skills in creative and critical thinking; the role of the artist was to use her expertise to achieve ‘artistic democracy’ and allow for the voice of the participants to be heard; and that schools in the local area are fighting a battle to maintain the expressive arts as part of the broader curriculum. The main conclusions drawn from this research are that art activity leads to creative and critical thinking which is useful to young people in everyday and adult life; artists’ skills are vital in breaking down barriers to creative and artistic democracy; and arts educators, artists and organisations must utilise their expertise and work in partnership to provide meaningful opportunities for young people to engage and participate in art. This research argues for recommendations including; • moving away from the evaluation of projects based on societal, health or economic impacts. • the creation of an environment for secondary age pupils, out of school curricula, where they can participate in projects led by artists. • Schools, artists and arts organisations should utilise their skills and own areas of expertise to work together to create time and space for creative democracy and critical thinking.Item Are Cultural Trusts ‘good’ for culture in Scotland?(2021)This study aims to investigate the impact that the adoption of Cultural Trusts by Scotland’s local authorities, to manage their culture assets, has had on culture itself. Semi-structured interviews with 7 artists and 4 Cultural Trust employees and a questionnaire that 26 artists participated in, were conducted to find out about their experiences of working with Cultural Trusts and how the structures and values of the organisations affect artists and their work. The research revealed that while many Artists have positive accounts of working with Cultural Trust staff, the organisations themselves are operating in a financial climate that isn’t conducive to artistic innovation or experimentation, necessary elements to sustaining a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape. Their own short term and precarious funding situations are affecting how Trusts evaluate art, what art is being supported and the conditions art is being made under.Item Item Britain’s Dame Race: Who Will Be the Next Pantomime Superstar?(2021)In contemporary society, there is a growing awareness of negative representations of minority groups that undermine equality. The pantomime genre is the most popular and most traditional form of theatre in Great Britain. However, pantomimes tend to contain harmful stereotypes of minority groups, for example, its stock character, the pantomime Dame. The pantomime Dame has been under fire for potentially portraying a negative image of women and transgender people. As the arts industry in Britain aims to improve Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI), it is necessary to investigate the problematic representations within its largest contributor, the pantomime. This research explores what barriers theatre practitioners face in their attempts to diversify representation within contemporary British pantomime through the Dame character. The qualitative research employed in-depth one-on-one interviews and a focus group as methods to survey the theatre practitioners. As the research took place during the COVID- 19 pandemic, the interviews and focus group were conducted over Zoom. The study showed that many issues lie within the lack of consensus on what the pantomime tradition and what a Dame entails. Additionally, theatre practitioners are limited by the audience expectations, the genre’s rigid model, a lack of diversity within the sector and within broader influential, authoritative positions.Item Cinema Matters: An empirical study into understanding the value of local rural cinemas in Scotland(Queen Margaret University, 2016)Cinema is one of the most popular forms of cultural entertainment in Scotland. Yet, very little is known or understood about the value of film presentation and consumption in rural areas. Despite growing interest in the situation of rural cinema by film historians, scholars have been slow to engage with the detail and meaning of its more recent past. Engaging with 11 cinemas across rural Scotland through an audience survey, research interviews and participant observation, this study seeks to contribute in addressing this knowledge gap. This research aims to extend the critical understanding of the meaning, value and significance of these screen experiences and provide a useful resource for, CS, BFI, policymakers and advocacy groups seeking to develop the sector by addressing the question: What is the perceived cultural understanding of the value of local cinemas in rural Scotland? And addressing the sub questions of: How do local audiences value local rural cinema in Scotland? How is local cinema understood by the people operating the screenings in rural Scotland? And what is the understanding of the local cinema experience in Scotland for the researcher?Item Configuring Hospitalities: dialogic relations between artists and curators(2020)This research seeks to explore the dialogic relationship between artists and curators in Scotland through the lens of hospitality. Taking an interpretive approach informed by post-structuralism, I examine the discursive construction of hospitality as it applies to contemporary art, and the meanings ascribed to it, drawing from relevant literature and qualitative data generated through a focus group and interviews with eight artists and curators working in the contemporary art sector in Scotland. As such, I pose the question: how do artists and curators understand their corresponding roles in relation to the concept of hospitality? At various points, hospitality might signify a practice, a theme, a situation, an exchange, a facade, or a set of laws, and with it brings its subjects: the host and guest. By analysing these subject-positions in relation to the roles of the artist and curator, one might then articulate some of the complexities of social relations and working conditions within the field of contemporary art.Item Culture-led urban regeneration: sustainability models and practices for bottom-up cultural regeneration. The Italian case of Farm Cultural Park.(Queen Margaret University, 2016)Sustainability is at the heart of the debate about cultural organizations and is one of the more discussed topics inside them. Different approaches can be used when dealing with it and the literature on the topic is wide and complex. This dissertation is meant to explore how cultural managers working in independent organizations perceive sustainability and the extent to which their role is fundamental to secure the sustainability of their organization. Appropriate research questions were drawn from the comprehensive examination of the literature and designed in order to narrow the research focus to the specific aims. This paper studies the case of Farm Cultural Park, an independent cultural and contemporary art centre in Favara, Italy, that was created in June 2010 after the initiative of a notary and his wife. The case examines different issues related to the achievement of sustainability of the organization, considered from a holistic point of view that includes the cultural, economic, organizational and social spheres. The dissertation utilizes a qualitative research methodology that includes one indepth interview to the founder, several informal conversations with the people involved in the project and the participant observation of the researcher, that has spent one month on the field to gather the necessary information and elaborate its personal considerations. Recommendations are provided in conclusion, based on three brief examples of best practices that cover the areas of sustainability mentioned above on which, according to the researcher, is opportune to consider some applications in order to extend the life-cycle of the organization.Item Developments and challenges in networking in small and medium sized arts organisations A multiple case study(2020)Networking is a strategy that has been studied in detail in economic management literature. What is not known, is the differences in inter-organisational professional networking practices in the arts and culture, a non-profit sector. Through an examination of networking in four cultural SMEs, the researcher will identify similarities and differences between cultural networking and standatz business-driven professional networking. Networking activity planning and execution will be analysed, and, at points, specific cultural networking practices will be evaluated. A qualitative research design, paired with a mixed-method approach, including desk research and case studies, will generate rich qualitative data. The study combines inductive and deductive theory building (Yin 2014) to identify building blocks for a theory of inter-organisational cultural networking. Interviews were carried out with representatives of four organisations situated in Edinburgh, including The Travelling Gallery, The Stills Gallery, the International Children's Festival, and Youth Theatre Arts Scotland. Each resulting case study encompassed both an organisational and individual perspective on networking. The analysis finds that professional networking is most effective if integrated into the overall strategic long-term planning of an organisation, only done if needed, planned thoroughly, executed informally, and aligns with the values of the small and medium-sized cultural organisations. The findings give implications for policy making. Professional advice and hands-on experience are essential for development of professional networking competencies of young cultural professionals to ensure alignment with values of the arts and cultural sector. The offering of a support structure for the development of soft-skills could contribute to making the arts and culture more inclusive and diverse. A toolkit could answer some questions, but does not replace the experience in cultural organisations. Additionally, governmental support is needed to create a more sustainable cultural sector through strengthening relevant sector agencies that help organisations to create networks. An infrastructure is needed that connects organisations more effectively in an open system (Holden 2010), with the potential to take pressure off many cultural organisations and to create a much more sustainable sector.Item "Dinner &…" A Feasibility Study of a Culinary, Culture and Arts Venue.(Queen Margaret University, 2016)Using desk research and analysis, this study compares the feasibility of three business models against five feasibility criteria. The organization follows a modified dinner theatre concept to provide various art forms with a sustainable performance arena free from reliance on grants and donations. This study discusses the current and potential market for the performing arts through investigation of the community, its citizens, its economy, and the current social and artistic opportunities available. Through analysis and discussion, the study discovers the variety of feasibility levels of the options. Through discussion of the general concept, requirements necessary overall are feasible. The requirements for Option A (a permanent facility with an in-house, set menu) are feasible with the exceptions of criteria that are feasible with time to develop a larger network of artists and donors. The requirements for Option B (a rented facility with hired catering service) are feasible with the requirement that there must not be insurmountable competition for the supporting systems' services. Finally, three of the five criteria for Option C (partnership and event coordination) are feasible but two remain improbable as the mission of a profit-based organization is not likely to coincide with the mission of the organization and are unlikely to support the organization to the extent needed for sustainability. The study concludes that options A and B should be used as various stages of the same project with Option B providing the network of artists and donors required to build the permanent facility and consistent programming required for Option A.Item Exploring contemporary expressions of the identity of Scottish craft through makers on Instagram(2021)This study explores contemporary expressions of the identity of Scottish craft trough makers on Instagram. Current research reflects that the Scottish craft sector feels that policy makers’ perceptions of craft need to change. It also showed that the sector feels that an identity for Scottish craft needs to be developed, which has historically been linked to the national identity and mass-produced souvenirs. In recent years makers have been turning to social media platforms to promote and sell their work and it is a space where they feel they can control the narrative surrounding their practice. Therefore, by exploring how makers construct their Scottish maker identity on Instagram, more accurate expressions of Scottish craft can be revealed. Further, it is argued that by identifying as Scottish on their Instagram accounts, makers are shaping perceptions of Scottish craft, and thus, its identity as well. This research comprised a questionnaire, and five case studies that consisted of self-curated photo elicitation and interviews data generation methods. These methods involved asking participants to select a series of posts that they felt most strongly demonstrated their identity as a Scottish maker which were then discussed through interviews. The study found that participants felt proud to be a Scottish maker and saw it a unique and attractive quality to customers online. Participants identified what they saw as stereotypical symbols of Scottish craft, such as tartan and Celtic designs, but did not feel they reflected Scottish craft today. Instead, makers identified community and place related ideas as more authentic symbols of Scottish craft. This research is a study of the contemporary identify of Scottish craft through its makers themselves, and is a preliminary contribution to a subject that has received little scholarly attention to date.Item Feasibility Study: Critical Analysis Essay(Queen Margaret University, 2016)Introduction: The functionality and purpose of a feasibility study is widely understood as a means of testing the practicality and likelihood of success of a proposed project for a business. While the practice of feasibility studies is regular in the for profit sector, the non-profit sector does not have an extensive amount of experience employing them. This essay will attempt to critically analyse the process of conducting a feasibility study within an arts organisation and examine how appropriate theory and literature have informed and influenced this process through a discussion of each of the sections included in a feasibility study. Firstly the essay will examine the pre-project research section of the study, the combination of methods employed and how specific concepts and theories can influence the design of this section. Following this the essay will discuss the internal and external sections of the feasibility study. Here the essay will discuss the necessity of a business model appraisal and why this is a relevant process during project development when conducting an internal audit before examining how the processing of information is equally important to the feasibility as information collection. Finally this essay will discuss the approach analysis and proposed material section of the study. Throughout this essay, examples and insights from a previous edition of the feasibility study will be discussed and examined to provide a contrast with the processes undertaken when conducting the current feasibility study.Item Flying through the air with the greatest of ease. Benefits of participation in circus arts(Queen Margaret University, 2016)Past research has emphasised the intrinsic benefits of participation in the arts, including more receptive modes of participation such as attending live performances and visiting museums and galleries, and more active modes such as participation in dance. However, there is a gap in the knowledge in relation to participation in circus arts. In this study, 17 adults currently involved in recreational circus arts, took part in semi-structured interviews that sought to identify the perceived benefits of participation. Qualitative analysis revealed that the benefits of participation in circus arts can be grouped under five categories: physical, psychological, intellectual, social and self-realisation. In addition, potential barriers to participation in circus arts were identified, including perceived ability to participate, physical ability to participate, and gender stereotypes. This study constitutes a starting point in understanding the benefits of participation in circus arts and asserts that the hybrid nature of circus offers a specific combination of benefits that is unique. The evidence provided by this research may be useful to policy-makers and advocacy groups seeking to develop the sector, gain access to funding or infrastructure, or reinforce the legitimacy and value of circus as an art form.Item How Heritage Organisations Value Membership Schemes(2018)Research on the nature of membership organisations requires insight into strategy alongside identifying typologies, to provide practical insight and a path to follow. National Museums Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland were selected as case studies which apply to Slater’s (2005) Integrated Membership Scheme typology. A thematic analysis of interviews with managerial staff, alongside a content analysis of strategic documents from the organisations produced findings on the strategic elements of membership. Applying economic, sociological and marketing theory on these strategies brought insight into how they lead to the characteristics an Integrated Membership Scheme. It was found that technology, sustainability and marketing had the most significant influence on membership. The findings from this study are of value to membership organisations who want to follow strategies to reproduce an Integrated Membership Scheme typology.Item “I just love to show off”: the effects of a professional participatory music programme on people with dementia and their carers(2021)Music as a form of therapy for people with dementia is a unique and increasingly common intervention, because musical memory tends to remain preserved from the effects of dementia. Recently, arts organisations have developed programming for people with dementia and their carers, and Scottish Opera appears to be the first music organisation to do so in the form of a programme called Memory Spinners. However, little research has been conducted on an ongoing participatory music programme for people with dementia and their carers hosted by a professional arts organisation. This qualitative case study, based on semistructured interviews with four people with dementia and carer couples, explores the ways participants are affected by participating in Memory Spinners, from their perspectives. A thematic analysis of the data uncovered four interrelated themes. The first discusses effects regarding sociality and relationships. However, it was discovered that those with cognitive impairments need an activity, rather than socialisation alone. The second discusses how music was found to be the activity of most value to participants, because the relationship of dementia with musical memory makes it accessible to all. The third discusses how the programme’s professional environment facilitated artistic quality and continued learning. This environment, unrelated to healthcare, also facilitated an environment of equality. Furthermore, the professionalism presented a structure involving working towards a performance, provoking the most influential theme that discusses resulting feelings of achievement, confidence and agency in participants. Ultimately, the effects most important to participants are related to their own identity and personhood, provoking more research that goes beyond observing changes in dementia symptoms. While programmes like Memory Spinners cannot change the reality of those living with dementia, this study finds that they can have positive effects on participants.Item Inside Grease: Live The Production Process of a Live Television Musical Event(Queen Margaret University, 2016)As the "live television musical event" becomes increasingly popular among consumers of live theatre and television, and increasingly accepted as a novel television genre among professional practitioners in the arts sector, production management of this type of production must be understood and streamlined to optimize the quality of the creative product, and maximize human resource during the production process. Analyzing primary data collected in semi-structured interviews with members of the production team of Grease: Live, this research aims to outline the production process of Grease: Live and determine its success factors for management in order to ultimately make recommendations for how similar projects might be effectively planned and managed in the future.Item Inside the museum – outside the exhibition: A study of museum entrance halls(2020)A great number of academic studies is concerned with research on visitor behaviour in museum spaces. They ask questions such as “What do they do?”, “Where do they go?” or “How long do they stay?”. Different methods from dance theory to numerical formulas are used to find answers. However, these studies almost exclusively relate to the rooms that accommodate the museum’s exhibits. It is this papers intention to add towards the knowledge on a less studied space inside the museum but outside the exhibition: the entrance hall. The researcher is interested in the design of these spaces and how they affect the behaviour of visitors. A comparative ethnographic approach with the use of multiple methods (thick description, tracking of visitors’ paths and taking field notes on behaviour) was used to generate data in two museums in Hamburg, Germany. The study found entrance halls to be complex spaces with many features influencing the behaviour of visitors. The results from a covert observation of 60 individuals were visualized in maps that show each visitor’s path. In these maps, a coherence of the entrance halls design and the way people move can be found. The study also found evidence for visitors’ intentional use of space as proposed by Hooper-Greenhill (2006). Two basic visitor types were identified. The researcher called those who moved on clear routes with none or only minor detours determined visitors. Visitors who took longer paths and wandered around the space, taking their time to explore different elements and features were called discovering visitors. This paper concludes with a set of recommendations for arts managers and museum professionals. It would like to emphasize a need to pay attention to the design of spaces in general and of entrance halls specifically as they might easily be classified as less important, functional rooms that do not relate to the organisations artistic or educational mission. Finally, the researcher reflects on the choice of methods. Although they generated interesting insights, some adaptions should be made when a similar study is conducted in the future.Item Integrating theory and practice in business planning for non-profit arts organizations and festivals: a three-year plan with a critical analysis.(Queen Margaret University, 2016)Introduction (part): In 2015, Just Festival celebrated 15 years of successful delivery of one of Edinburgh's most unique and diverse festivals featuring hundreds of events and performances in St. John's Church and engaging with thousands of audiences every August. The festival engages with broadly encompassing topical themes of social justice, equality, human rights, and cultural diversity, including prejudice against race, ethnicity, class and economic status. Previous editions have all provided a platform for local, national and international participants to share their talent, ideas, opinions and visions by engaging in music, dance, and theatre performances, conversation and talk discussions, exhibitions, film, family activities, and workshops. Every festival edition, performers are given the option of registering as part of Edinburgh Fringe programme besides being part of Just Festival since St. John's is a fringe registered venue. Just Festival is proud to have hosted for the past editions several socially conscious events that had strong positive impressions on audiences and created lively interactive debates. Although the 15th edition of the festival has successfully led to a high number of new connections made as a result of cooperating with diverse community organizations and performers from various backgrounds, average paid attendance per event for that edition in particular was lower than expected due to expanding the programme offer into over 300 events which led to an overwhelming quantity for audiences to choose from, the inclusion of some events that were loosely connected to Just Festival's mission, and adding a second main venue besides St. John's for the first time that was not familiar to audiences as a fringe venue. Survey feedback gained from audiences and a thorough analysis of that edition's performance revealed those mentioned challenges, and that also depending on a different external temporary PR and Media consultant every season to handle the marketing for the festival is not ideal in such a competitive festivals month.