The Hometown Advantage| Community Engagement for Orchestra Sustainability in the U.S.

• Main Author: Dalton, David H.
• Language: EN
• Published: American University 2018
• Subjects: Arts management
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10786498

<p> The purpose of this research study is to uncover or synthesize strategies that professional orchestras can use to better engage with their shifting communities, and to connect this community engagement to an organizational sustainability advantage (&ldquo;the hometown advantage&rdquo;) for the orchestra. Only recently has the idea of sustainability through community engagement become a consideration for arts managers and researchers. A review of literature supports the notion that there is a sustainability advantage for organizations that connect with the unique cultural distinctions of their community, plan and program with authenticity and integrity, and involve and empower the locals within their community through collective ownership. An examination of five case studies extends this framework to create a more cohesive and credible set of actionable strategies for orchestras to incorporate. The conclusions of this study recommend a shift toward approaching community engagement as the co-creation of meaning-making experiences that carry shared cultural values. The findings of this research are beneficial for professional orchestras because they provide a possible strategy for navigating the contemporary issues that affect the sustainable relevance of these orchestras within the communities they serve.</p><p>