Management | AACT

Management

Running a Theatre

Bolstering fundraising, tightening finances, building audiences, and solidifying relationships with staff, volunteers, colleagues & community

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Management Roles

See the menu at right for information and expertise on the following  An asterisk (*) indicates resources available only to AACT members:

  • Arts Administration. Titles may vary: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Managing Director, Artistic Director, Executive Director, or a combination of titles (Managing/Artistic Director).   In all-volunteer groups, the role may be handled by the President of the organization.  Most community theatres have a single chief administrator, but larger ones may split responsibilities between two people--one to handle artistic direction, the other to handle the business end.
  • Artistic Management. The artistic director of a theatre company is responsible for the theatre's production and directorial choices, as well as its artistic vision.
  • Financial Management.  Financial managers monitor their organization and ensure that budget overruns do not occur. This means coordinating with staff (including directors) and volunteers to verify that costs are acceptable, as well as developing long-term budgets to plan for the expansion of the organization.
  • Volunteer Management. Volunteer management is the gateway to the community, providing residents with opportunities to become more involved in local life, and serving as a company's grassroots source of public relations and marketing.
  • People Management. In collaboration with the board, the chief administrator establishes specific policies and practices that promote cooperation and open communication among employees & volunteers so that they can work together to advance the company’s mission. 
  • Marketing & Public Relations. Some think of marketing as promoting a new production, a season ticket, or a summer workshop--but in fact it begins with understanding what a target audience wants (or might enjoy).  It also entails establishing a respected "brand" that separates a company and its offerings from others'.

More Resources

  • Free Management Library has offered indispensable board governance resources since 1995, including fact sheets, forms, sample policies, board manuals, and other helpful tools. A collaborative effort by several entities, this website continues to be the best online source of free information, covering nearly every aspect of effective management and nonprofit operations. Select from a wide variety of topics such as career advancement, cultivating desired culture, organizational change, and more.
  • Nonprofit Tech for Good is a leading technology resource for nonprofit professionals, providing valuable, easy-to-understand information, news, and resources related to nonprofit technology, online communication, and mobile and social fundraising. Download Nonprofit Tech for Good’s free 2018 Global NGO Technology Report, the only annual research project dedicated to studying global web and email communications, online fundraising tools, social media, mobile technology, data management, and security software. This is the sister report to the Global Trends in Giving Report, which shows the impact of technology, gender, generation, and ideology upon giving worldwide. The 2019 editions will be available in September.
  • National Council of Nonprofits: Running a Nonprofit: The National Council of Nonprofits provides nonprofits with the tools, research, and resources needed to operate more effectively, efficiently, and ethically. To advance equity, we make these materials available for free to all nonprofits.
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