Arts and Cultural Programming: A Leisure Perspective

More and more, community festivals, performing and visual arts, and cultural events are capturing the public interest, making arts and cultural programming an increasingly important part of the leisure and recreation, hospitality, museum, and tourism industries. As arts and cultural opportunities expand, programmers can look to Arts and Cultural Programming: A Leisure Perspective to acquire skills to build their audiences and position their programs for success.

This is the first book that covers options in arts and cultural programming from a leisure standpoint. It draws on current knowledge of leisure programming strategies for small, medium-sized, and large organizations in a variety of settings, including community recreation, community and cultural arts, nonprofit organizations, hospitality, tourism, public relations, and event management. The book uses terms and ideas from the leisure and recreation fields, making it easy for even those with little knowledge of arts and cultural programming to design, plan, manage, and evaluate events.

Complete with chapters written by experts in leisure programming and arts administration and edited by field authorities Gaylene Carpenter and Douglas Blandy, this unique book offers new perspectives on the possiblities of arts and cultural experiences. Arts and Cultural Programming: A Leisure Perspective progresses from theory to general program management and then to specific program considerations. It offers :

-guidance in the planning process, from needs assessment and strategic planning through the implementation of specific events

-practical advice on topics such as finding your audience, budgeting, recruiting volunteers, and marketing your event

-descriptions of the tasks and functions required for programming success, making it easy to plan for appropriate staffing through the entire event planning process

-recommendations for working with musicians, performers, dancers, and other participants involved in your event

-examples of best practices and current programs, from the conventional to the innovative, exposing you to a variety of programming options while allowing you to choose what works best for your community

-a chapter each on festivals, special events, community arts, cultural programs, museums, and performing arts with case studies and examples from actual organizations so you can see what is working for other professionals and their patrons

-a discussion of trends and challenges in the field, enabling you to proactively plan for the future of your program

The book is firmly grounded in leisure programming theory, but it still contains the most important terminology and provides a basic understanding of the arts so that you can become comfortable working with events in those fields. The authors provide step-by-step application of basic theory and approaches to designing and implementing one-time events, annual or seasonal events, and yearlong programs. You'll be able to use this knowledge to move confidently beyond the examples found in this book toward programming events that fulfill the needs of your community.

Enliven your next arts or cultural venture with the practical tips and innovative case studies found in Arts and Cultural Programming: A Leisure Perspective, and use its foundational theory and guidance to help you succeed in the burgeoning field of programming for arts and culture.

Gaylene Carpenter, EdD, is emerita associate professor in the arts and administration program at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where she teaches graduate-level courses in arts program theory.

As an author, Carpenter has written several publications on program theory, including a program theory textbook, Programming Leisure Experiences (Prentice-Hall, 1985).

Carpenter is past president of the American Leisure Academy (ALA) and an ALA senior fellow. She also served as an elected board member for the Society of Park and Recreation Educators and the American Association for Leisure & Recreation. Carpenter is a member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), where she has maintained her certification since 1984. In addition, Carpenter holds membership in the Association of Arts Administration Educators, the Canadian Association for Leisure Research, the International Festivals & Events Association, the World Leisure Association, and both the Oregon and Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Associations.

In 2004 Carpenter received an Ovation Award from the Oregon Festivals and Events Association. She has been awarded twice with the Teaching Innovation and Excellence Award from the Society of Park and Recreation Educators (1996 and 2001). Carpenter also received the Professional Award for Leadership in 1998 from the Northwest region of the NRPA.

In her leisure time, Carpenter enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening, and attending festivals and events. She resides in Eugene, Oregon.

Doug Blandy, PhD, is a professor in the arts and administration program and associate dean for academic affairs for the School of Architecture and Allied Arts at the University of Oregon in Eugene. He is also the director for the university's Institute for Community Arts Studies (ICAS).

Blandy has more than 30 years of experience in community arts and arts administration as a teacher, researcher, consultant, national and international presenter, and administrator. He is the author of numerous publications, including 6 books, 10 book chapters, and more than 100 articles, proceedings, reports, and book reviews. Blandy also is the founder and publisher of CultureWork, the Web-based advisory of the Center for Community Arts and Cultural Policy (CACP).

Blandy is currently the coeditor for Studies in Art Education. He also serves on the review board of Journal of Gender Issues in Art Education, Journal of Social Theory in Art Education, and Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education. He is a member of the National Art Education Association (NAEA) and the American Folklore Society.

In 2007 Blandy received the Faculty Excellence Award from the University of Oregon. His other notable awards include the NAEA Women's Caucus Mary Rouse Award (1997) and the NAEA Manuel Barkan Award (1991).

Blandy and his wife, Linda, live in Eugene, Oregon. He enjoys reading, listening to music, hiking, and traveling.