Arts management in turbulent times: Adaptable Quality Management

The fundamental shift from authoritarian state socialism towards market economics and European Union membership has led to an array of challenges and opportunities for the societies of the countries concerned and the arts managers working within them. If they are to shape and develop cultural life in their respective countries (the book argues), both public and independent arts organisations need to be able to rely on strong organisational structures and sufficient management capacities. For this reason, strategic planning and increased proficiency in organisational development and management become key factors. Such planning and proficiency assist cultural organisations in exceptionally difficult environments to master successfully the many – often daunting – challenges they face.

This remarkable new book combines various contemporary approaches to arts management (both Western and Eastern European), highlighting practice-based management tools and unprecedented adaptations of existing theory, along with hands-on solutions developed for arts managers working internationally and in turbulent contexts.

This book is informed by the wide-ranging expertise of its two authors. In writing it, Milena Dragićević Šešić and Sanjin Dragojević (leading figures in arts management theory, based in the universities of Belgrade and Zagreb respectively) have drawn on their academic expertise and longstanding experience of arts management training in South East Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus and other countries in and around Europe. Especially telling and valuable has been their impressive track record of bringing stability and success to arts organisations operating in turbulent environments.