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This book investigates the public funding of opera in Britain and Germany and the nature of failures of decision making in the allocation of funds to opera companies. A description of the funding systems in Germany and in Britain is followed by case studies in both countries.
The case studies reveal that the funding bodies have never defined their aims well. However, it is also shown that this lack of well-defined objectives is not the root of the problem. Powerplay of stakeholders and inadequate management of power politics are the reason for the failures in the implementation of policy vis-à-vis opera companies.
A decision-making model as a practical and realistic solution is proposed for funding bodies in Britain and Germany. The suggested model covers the full range of decision-making situations confronting public funding bodies of opera companies.
List of contents
Contents: Opera - Subsidies - Decision making - Cultural policies - Implementation - Britain and Germany - Power politics - Case studies: Demise of Kent Opera, Establishment of Opera North, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Crises in Berlin, Deteriorating Frankfurt, Tranquil Bavaria - Decision making model for public funding bodies.
About the author
The Author: David Ranan is an arts policy researcher whose current area of interest revolves around government and its relationship with opera. He studied Economics and Business Administration at the Tel Aviv University and Arts Policy at City University in London where he was awarded a Ph.D. He spent a number of years as strategy and finance consultant and presently investigates and analyses public policies in the cultural sector.
Report
«Who should read this book? Apart from those running opera companies, any politician who professes to have an interest in opera should move it to the top of his reading list immediately, and any candidate for the Arts Council's top jobs should study it closely. It should also have a much wider readership among the opera-loving public than its purpose and theme might at first suggest.» (Kenneth Richardson, Opera Now)
