Author: Militello, Jack; Burns, Thomas; and Dickstein, Carla

Publication Year: 1981

Media Type: Report

Summary:

This report is the result of a two month study of opportunities for improving the management of Philadelphia's non-profit cultural organizations. The aims of the study were to identify the management needs of the member organizations of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, available management resources relevant to those needs, and feasible management development strategies to improve the capacities of cultural organizations to cope with tighter money and increasing competition in the non-profit sector.

Abstract:

This report is the result of a two month study of opportunities for improving the management of Philadelphia's non-profit cultural organizations. The aims of the study were to identify the management needs of the member organizations of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, available management resources relevant to those needs, and feasible management development strategies to improve the capacities of cultural organizations to cope with tighter money and increasing competition in the non-profit sector. The main findings of the study are:

• That Philadelphia's cultural organizations recognize a broad range of management needs, the most common of which are in the areas of staff development, fundraising, organizational design, strategic planning, and board and volunteer development.
• That management resources to meet most expressed management needs are available locally, but for a variety of reasons are not fully or extensively used by cultural organizations.
• That the increased use of available management resources and improvements in the quality of cultural management depend on improving the system of relationships through which users and providers match management needs and resources.
• That the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is in an ideal position to initiate improvements in Philadelphia's cultural management development system, and that improving the management of cultural organizations should be one of its central missions. (Summary)

CONTENTS
1. Background and purposes of the study: 
         Need for the study.
         Study objectives.
         Organization of the report.

2. Study framework and approach:
         Cultural management needs and resources.
         Methods used in the study.

3. Main findings:
         The users perspective.
         The providers perspective.
         Analysis and main conclusions.

4. A management development strategy:
         Strengthening the GPCA [Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance] role.
         A cultural management development program.
         Special projects.

5. Getting started.

Appendices:
     A. Findings of user survey and interviews.
     B. Findings of provider interviews and research.
     C. Summary of GPCA project review meeting.
     D. List of persons contacted in the study.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Organizational Planning