Publisher's Synopsis
This book of five case studies demonstrates the critical role entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial thinking play in reinventing cultural organizations to make them relevant and sustainable for the twenty-first century and beyond. Through the twin lenses of cultural entrepreneurship and organizational change, these readable and inspirational cases offer an in-depth analysis of how a variety of cultural organizations-small and large; local, regional and national; museums and arts organizations-have found opportunities in complex situations to create new identities and missions and, in doing so, have revitalized their organizations and in many cases, surrounding communities. Cases include: ·The Strong: how a museum in Rochester, New York, forged an entirely new national identity as The National Museum of Play. ·National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium: how the Mississippi River Museum developed and nurtured a network of partnerships to create a new regional identity and, in doing so, revitalized the waterfront area of Dubuque, Iowa. ·Montreal Center for History: using oral history and community collaborations to dramatically build its audiences throughout the city. ·Proctors: how an arts organization revitalized downtown Schenectady, New York ·Weeksville: how an institution in one of the poorest neighborhoods in New York City found a niche that provided vital services to its constituency.
