Knowledge-Centric Practices of Performing Arts Organizations: New Directions for Organizational Resilience

This paper explores the concepts of knowledge-centric organizations in the performing arts sector as a means to understand how specific organizational practices relate to measures of financial and operational performance. Using the authors’ prior framework of a knowledge-centric arts organization, a quantitative study of 368 small and mid-sized non-profit performing arts organizations in the United States was conducted via primary data on 36 organizational practices and secondary data on 21 performance metrics. A statistical analysis using structural equation models found several distinct performance metrics’ dimensions that are statistically associated with knowledge-centric practices, in particular related to board contribution, the resilience of the organization and attendance. On the other hand, no relationship was confirmed with monetary performance measures. We were also able to show some important correlations between demographic characteristics of organizations and their usage of knowledge-centric practices. These findings can serve as a basis to further investigate how organizations can remain sustainable and operate effectively in a knowledge-driven society.