Managing change

In the last twenty years, the social, technological, economic and political environment in which artists create and present their work has also changed, and we have seen an explosion in the volume, range and sophistication of opportunities available to those who might wish to participate in or attend the arts. But how much have arts organisations changed in that period? Well, there are many more managers now, and of course, every self-respecting organisation has a marketing department.

But how much has the content of what we put on in our theatres, concert halls and galleries changed? And how much have those theatres, concert halls and galleries themselves changed? Not much, I would argue. And certainly not enough to make much of what goes on in the subsidised arts central to the lives of the citizens of twenty-first-century Britain.