The Beijing Performance and Arts Group: Value Creation of Performing Arts Through a Dual System of Governance

Yi Lin, François Colbert

Yi Lin is a professor at the School of Arts, Peking University, and focuses her research on arts management, marketing and intercultural communication of arts. She is the director, of the National Center for Research into Intercultural Communication of Arts (NCRICA), the vice-president of the China Arts Administration Education Association, the chairperson and a specialist at the International Advisory Board for Promotion of Chinese Arts and Culture, Confucius Institute Headquarters; and an inspector and board member of the Asia Theatre Education Centre.
François Colbert is a marketing professor and holder of the Carmelle and Rémi-Marcoux Chair in Arts Management and codirector of the Master of Management in International Arts Management at HEC Montréal.

ABSTRACT
The Beijing Performance and Arts Group initiated a new model of governance where for-profit companies help support a series of not-for-profit entities. The BPA portfolio comprises 28 different companies; nine are not-for-profit troupes and 19 are for-profit. The troupes that can be defined as high art were transformed into not-for-profit self-supported companies. Those who are more market oriented were given the status of for-profit companies. Finally, the BPA explored and created the conglomerates that will link the two types of organizations. This new model is meant to create social as well as economic value for the Chinese society. It also gives managers with entrepreneurial spirit and the capacity and means to grow both values by responding to market opportunities.
KEYWORDS
Performing Arts, Organizational Structure, Cultural Policy