75800 - Design and Management of Theatre Activities (1) (LM)

Academic Year 2019/2020

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Music and Theatre Studies (cod. 8837)

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing the course, the student will have gained knowledge of the design, implementation, organisation of theatre and music shows of different types and related outcomes assessment.

In particular, the student will be able to:

  • apply project management techniques;

  • identify and map out a project's core elements regarding productions, festivals, tours and other initiatives in the field of theatre and music activities;

  • use tools to evaluate projects during design, implementation and monitoring stages.

Course contents

The program deals with the performing arts and related sub-sectors, by showing the processes related to planning and management, from organisation to distribution. Particular attention is paid to changes in the Italian system of performing arts, which started in 2014 and 2015 as a result of the new regulations issued by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, with a special regard to D.M.1 july 2014

The course contents are divided in two parts:

1) Framework

• types and key features of the business and assets of performing arts; definitions and taxonomies

• policies for culture and performing arts in Italy and Europe; the cultural and creative industries system

• elements of economics of culture: inception and development; main theories

• employment and labour market in performing arts: statistical analysis, types of contracts

• the performing arts system in Italy and in major European countries; production, programming and distribution

• Observatories of culture and performing arts in Italy and Europe

2) Designing culture:

• fundamentals of project management applied to performing arts and cultural events: creation, activation, implementation, evaluation

• work processes

• management of economic, human and technical resources

• performing arts and territory; elements of cultural planning;

• evaluation and assessment methods for performing arts activities

Readings/Bibliography

 Texts required for attenders and non-attenders:

 Argano L. (2012), Manuale di progettazione della cultura (chapter 2-3-4-5-6), FrancoAngeli, Milano

  • Taormina A. (a cura di) (2016), "La formazione al management culturale. Scenari, pratiche, nuove sfide", FrancoAngeli, Milano
  • Course handouts provided by the professor

For non-attenders, please choose one from the following:

  • Gallina, M. (2014), Ri-Organizzare Teatro (part I and part III), FrancoAngeli, Milano
  • Trimarchi M. (1993), Economia e Cultura, FrancoAngeli, Milano De
  • Biase F. (a cura di) (2014), I pubblici della cultura, Franco Angeli, Milano
  • Taormina A. (2011), Osservare la cultura, FrancoAngeli, Milano

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons with seminars suppoted by power point presentations and web and web tools.

The course will include meetings with workers and experts.

Assessment methods

A first test takes place in the classroom, during interactions with students and mid-term simulations. Attending students may also agree with the Lecturer to develop a project work, which will be evaluated and discussed during the final exam. The written text shall be approx 10 pages and shall be provided to the Lecturer one week before the oral test date. The final exam is oral and cover all the course subjects. It is designed to assess the methodological and critical skills acquired by the students, who will be invited to confront themselves with the texts discussed during the course. The evaluation of the project work will verify the student's ability to develop an independent research in the fields of the public and private founds for culture, the performing arts laws,  the cultural planning and management.

Teaching tools

The course will be developed in two cross-related ways: the first part includes lessons on the theoretical part; the second will be developed as a workshop - with direct involvement of the students – and will be dedicated to the analysis of cultural statistics, production projects,  audiovisual material from contemporary theatre.

Office hours

See the website of Antonino Taormina