024. From the Stage to the Streets: Do Orchestras Impact Social Change?
For a more comprehensive exploration of this topic, a detailed PDF version of the article (including the complete reference list) is available for download from this link.
Introduction
Orchestras have long been esteemed for their musical performances only (or mostly), but their role in society extends beyond entertainment. The impact of orchestras –performing arts overall– on society covers a broad range of effects, from fostering social change and emotional well-being to influencing economic and cultural dynamics. Recent research has highlighted the potential of orchestras to act as agents of social change, examining how they can influence civil society, foster personal development, and address social issues.
The potential of music as a tool for social (and health) interventions is significant, with the ability to impact individual health, community well-being, and societal change. It now is widely acknowledged that music can help address social inequalities and public health concerns by fostering empathy, collaboration, academic achievement, and self-esteem amongst others. The therapeutic effects of music are particularly noteworthy, as it can be used to address social issues and foster positive change in various communities. Access to the arts is crucial as a means of social change, and understanding the impact and process issues associated with arts for health initiatives is essential.
Political economy plays a significant role in the implementation of public arts programs, such as youth orchestras in Venezuela and Chile. Government control, social welfare policy, and competition for public funds can influence arts programs' social goals, daily operations, definitions of success, and impact study procedures. Institutional forms and government subsidies also shape the behaviour of management in cooperative, profit-oriented, and government-subsidised non-profit performing arts companies. Music ensembles offer unique opportunities for investigating social interaction, particularly in the context of cognitive neuroscience and automatic quantitative analysis of ensemble music performances. As a research model, ensemble music is valuable for understanding the dynamics of sensorimotor communication during joint action and the role of leader-follower dynamics in orchestras. Participating in orchestras and community music programs can have implications for promoting social and musical development among children, especially in underserved populations. The transformative effects of music education and community music programs can provide potential social and musical benefits. Engaging in social efforts, symphony orchestras contribute positively to civil society. Arts participation is linked to enhanced civic engagement, social tolerance, and other-regarding behaviour, suggesting that both audience-based and personal participation in the arts contribute positively to civil society. Establishing greater collaborations between orchestras and the public health and cultural sectors can help determine the economic value of orchestras' contributions to society's health and well-being. The transformative potential of music and orchestras is far-reaching, as they can promote social change, address health disparities, foster inclusivity within diverse communities, advance social justice, well-being, and community cohesion, address racism, and promote inclusive and diverse musical experiences within music education and orchestra settings.
Key Insights
Research efforts into the social impact of orchestras over the last two decades have revealed an array of influences, which can be classified into four principal categories. This classification helps recognise the roles orchestras play in society, spanning developmental, cultural, strategic, and financial dimensions. Such a framework not only enhances our understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic values these musical organisations contribute but also assists in identifying targeted areas for research and policy development. This approach ensures a comprehensive analysis of the impact orchestras have, from individual personal growth to broader socio-economic benefits, thereby supporting informed decision-making within cultural policy and institutional management.
We acknowledge that the division into four categories might seem somewhat artificial and should be viewed as a heuristic tool rather than a precise reflection of reality. We are also aware of the potential overlaps between these categories, although, for the sake of simplification, we have avoided these in this initial categorisation.
Social and Educational Impact: This category focuses on the direct benefits and impacts of arts participation on individuals, particularly youth. It includes developmental advantages such as enhanced empathy, collaboration skills, and academic achievement, as well as broader social benefits like self-esteem and potential poverty alleviation. This section emphasises the transformative power of arts education on both personal and social levels.
Cultural and Emotional Influence: The focus is on the broader cultural and emotional contributions of orchestral music and the performing arts to society. This includes influencing socio-cultural norms and emotional states, providing nonmaterial values such as aesthetic satisfaction, and fostering cultural communication and therapeutic impacts. It reflects the arts' capacity to enrich societal emotional health and cultural understanding.
Institutional Strategy and Challenges: This category addresses the operational, strategic, and adaptive challenges faced by orchestras and other arts institutions. It covers a range of issues from adapting to audience preferences and undergoing digital transformations, to navigating financial reliance on diverse revenue streams and strategic outreach. It also explores the impact of political economy on these strategic initiatives, highlighting how external environments influence institutional strategies.
Policy and Financial Support: Insights in this category are centred on the support systems that enable the sustainability of arts institutions. It speaks directly to the advocacy for policy and financial backing, which is crucial for the arts' survival and flourishing, and emphasises the financial dynamics involving patron contributions and public subsidies. Additionally, this category covers the impact of governmental policies and economic conditions on funding and operational decisions in the arts.
Why Does It Matters to Orchestra Managers?
The analysis of orchestras' broad impact on society yields important lessons for those managing these cultural organisations. As arts & culture institutions operate within a progressively challenging environment, grasping the extensive role of orchestras is crucial. Orchestra managers must acknowledge that their operational choices extend their influence well outside the performance venues, touching on aspects such as education, community engagement, cultural diversity, and public wellness.
To address these priorities and enhance the impact of orchestras, managers must concentrate on specific strategic areas. These include enhancing educational outreach, diversifying programming to reflect community demographics, adopting innovative financial strategies, and actively engaging in policy and funding discussions. Here are the crucial strategies for each area:
The educational and societal contributions of orchestras underscore the necessity for comprehensive educational initiatives and outreach efforts. Managers should focus on creating alliances with educational institutions, youth groups, and underrepresented communities to broaden access to musical education and engagement.
The emotional and cultural resonance of orchestras demands that managers devise programming that appeals to varied audiences and mirrors the demographic fabric of the communities they represent.
Addressing the institutional hurdles that orchestras face, such as evolving audience preferences (Salvaggio 2024) and financial limitations, calls for inventive management strategies. Managers ought to actively pursue digital innovations and alternative funding models to safeguard the future of their institutions.
The environment of policy and financial backing for orchestras demands that managers engage proactively. It is essential for them to advocate for supportive policies and secure sufficient funding to ensure their organisations' sustainability.
Conclusion
This initial literature review has investigated the wide-ranging impact of orchestras on society, demonstrating their capacity to drive some social change beyond their primary function in entertainment. The existing literature highlights the various ways in which orchestras contribute to personal growth, community welfare, cultural enrichment, and socio-economic support.
Categorising the social impact of orchestras into four main areas –social and educational impact, cultural and emotional influence, institutional strategy and challenges, and policy and financial support– offers a structure for comprehending the scope and magnitude of their influence. Orchestras have been shown to promote empathy, collaboration, academic achievement, and self-esteem, especially among young people in disadvantaged communities. They also significantly shape emotional states, influence socio-cultural norms, and facilitate cultural communication. However, the success of these initiatives is influenced by broader socio-political contexts and requires a careful balance between discipline and empowerment.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/43jvd
More details and relevant bibliographic references may be found in my new book, Orchestra Management in Practice (Routledge, London, 2024).
The author, not a native English speaker, used Large Language Models (LLMs) for editing the article, addressing grammar, syntax, and spelling, enhancing fluency and readability, and translating sections from his native languages. Academically, LLMs helped in peer-reviewing, identifying gaps, and suggesting improvements.
#culturalmanagement #businessstrategy #orchestramanagement