"Dinner &…" A Feasibility Study of a Culinary, Culture and Arts Venue.

Abstract

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.