Mandel - Can Audience Development Promote Social Diversity in German Public Arts Institutions?
Mandel, B.R. (2019) Can Audience Development Promote Social Diversity in German Public Arts Institutions? The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society, 49 (2): 121-135.
It is well known that, despite generous public funding, arts institutions in Germany primarily serve a small, educated section of the German population. This article presents an analysis of cultural policy debates to reveal the role of audience development in overcoming the social imbalance of audiences in German cultural institutions. It also includes findings from arts participation surveys and research from an empirical study on intercultural audience development in public theatres and museums. Research findings suggest that traditional concepts of audience development do not lead to sustainable changes in the social structure of the audience. The author concludes that more substantial institutional changes are necessary and that they should be supported by new cultural policies.
Birgit Regina Mandel “Can Audience Development Promote Social Diversity in German Public Arts Institutions?”