As a non-profit organization, local art centers are very important facilities to encourage artistic and cultural activities and to lead avid participation of local residents. As of December 2008, 165 art centers are being run by municipal governments in addition to roughly 25 centers waiting to be open soon. Unfortunately, the local art centers have not been efficiently managed in spite of their large-scale operations.
In this research, effective ways to invigorate the management of concert halls have been suggested, along with limits in management of local art centers. Since its foundation in 2004, Bongsan Art Center has been the core of art and culture in the community. However, the management has not been purposeful or in accordance with the fundamental objective that a local art center should seek. The center also has a problematic bureaucratic system due to the direct control of the municipal government.
The concert halls of Bongsan Art Center are considered to be the center of the discussion. In Chapter2, roles of public concert halls and approaches to invigorate management are discussed. In Chapter 3, the cultural foundation and characteristics of the community are discussed. In the next chapter, the current state and underlying problems of the center are discussed, based on performance review, finance, and manpower of the center. In Chapter 5, ways to improve management and marketing and new program development are introduced, in addition to successful examples of concert hall management from other local governments. Based on these ideas, a comprehensive strategy to activate the concert halls is suggested in Chapter 6.
The best solution to the problem will be to change the administrative structure of the center by commissioning the management to Daegu Culture Foundation. In terms of marketing, quality control of the works and concerts will be most important, thus encouraging audience to return for another performance. In addition, new programs on art education and year-long performances in the amphitheater should be developed. Staging more feature performances or concerts than having the halls rented should be promoted. Featuring cultural resources of the local community should be the center of the program design to meet the needs of the local community. Appointing an organization for year-long performances can also be another way to attract more audience.
Bongsan Art Center is a very meaningful facility to local residents. In rder for the center to be more cherished, the local government, its residents as well as local artists should all make contributions to help the center become the core of the local culture. One well-managed art center may actually improve the quality of life of the residents and the image of the city.