Despite the growing impact of globalization on the arts and culture sector, there are hardly any scientific studies on the effects of internationalization on tasks, missions, or skill requirements of arts/cultural managers, or on the benefits and challenges of international arts/cultural management and cooperation. How do arts/cultural managers value the outcomes and difficulties of international cooperation? Are there differences in working concepts and styles due to different national political and economic conditions or to a different understanding of the role of arts and culture in the society? What competencies are needed to work internationally and how can these be taught in future training programs?

To address this gap in existing research, the author served as principal investigator for an empirical study on internationalization and international cooperation in arts/cultural management, in cooperation with the Goethe Institut and the European Cultural Foundation Amsterdam/Mit Ost Berlin. The researchers utilized a mixed methods approach to identify what current leaders in the field identify as missions, working conditions, challenges, competencies, and training for arts/cultural management in international contexts. From January to June 2016, interviews were conducted with 35 experts on international arts/cultural management, and 750 respondents from all over the world completed an online survey. In addition, the researchers completed in-depth analyses of two international arts/ cultural management trainings programs: the “MOOC Managing the Arts” and the “Tandem” Program.

This report provides an overview of the data collected for this study, as well as a comprehensive analysis and clearly articulated summaries and results. Ultimately, findings from the study are provided in thee major areas: findings on diverse international contexts of arts/cultural management; findings on different roles and missions of arts/cultural managers around the world; and findings on strategies for and approaches to international cooperation and international trainings in arts/cultural management.

This study on Arts/Cultural Management in International Contexts seeks to provide researchers and practitioners around the world with a solid foundation for continued research and reflection on all of the issues raised throughout this report.