Some Economic Institutions and Their Implications for Inequities in the Arts

For such a large and diverse sector as arts and culture, there can be no single institution that is responsible for the dizzying array of inequities perceived and experienced every day. This chapter features just a handful of the “big ones.” For a moment, we put aside the complicated on-the-ground reality to consider some models of major institutions that help define the arts sector. The institutions we highlight aren’t rich in detail about any particular situation, but instead aim to provide insights that can be applied to a great many particular situations. A first step to remedying inequities that are endemic to institutions in the arts and culture sector would be to understand those institutions—how they generate or perpetuate inequities and why they function that way in the first place. The approach we take in this chapter is purposeful, in that we take a step back to appreciate broad institutions and provide a sense of how and why they work without casting judgment on the inequities that result. We are then able to start to analyze the potential innovations that could change how these institutions function.