Walking the Eco-Talk: Cultural and Arts Management During an Era of Sustainable Development

Cristian Pulido, Philippe Ravanas, André Courchesne

Cristian Pulido is a graduate of Concordia University, Montreal, with majors in Marketing and Business Technology Management. He is passionate about technology, sustainable development, arts and culture. He currently works at Cirque du Soleil as an IT Business Analyst.
Philippe Ravanas is Professor and Chair Emeritus in the Business and Entrepreneurship Department at Columbia College Chicago. He is an international expert in pricing, revenue management, cultural policy, sponsorship and entertainment marketing.
André Courchesne is Adjunct Professor, Carmelle and Rémi Marcoux Chair in Arts Management, HEC Montréal. He has held senior positions with the Canada Council for the Arts and with theatrical companies and festivals.

ABSTRACT
Thirty years after publication of the Brundtland Report on sustainable development, a number of artists and arts organizations are at the forefront in terms of implementing sustainable practices in their regular activities. The purpose of this article is to identify the different roles and illustrate the motivations of performing arts organizations that adopt ecological practices in their infrastructure, their artistic production processes and their presenting activities. The article presents four case studies in order to identify and discuss the key competencies needed for performing arts organizations to be successful in terms of sustainable development. The managerial implications of implementing best practices are discussed.
KEYWORDS
Sustainable development, sustainable arts organizations, repurposing heritage buildings, sustainable artistic production