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Application of Human-Centered Design to Identify and Address Challenges in the Baltimore Theatre Community

Long Jr, Alan Brian and Parsons, Bruce and Dickinson, Joan I. and Sullivan, Kathleen Application of Human-Centered Design to Identify and Address Challenges in the Baltimore Theatre Community. 2021. Radford University, Thesis. Radford University Scholars' Repository.

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Abstract

Theatre industry challenges are well documented in case studies and publications around the world; thus, it was surprising to find there were no such research studies on the theatre community in Baltimore. As the foundational research study on this topic, findings will inform future research by providing a baseline understanding of challenges faced by Baltimore theatre companies and highlighting areas for further research. The purpose of this research study was to determine how industry challenges are experienced in the Baltimore theatre community and engage with the people that organize, create, and perform theatrical works in Baltimore to help them collectively identify and address challenges. The research study consisted of an online survey and an online design-thinking session. From February 1st through February 22nd, 2021, 26 Baltimore theatre community stakeholders identified industry challenges they experienced via the online survey. During the online design-thinking session, nine stakeholders framed challenges provided in the survey based on their experience. Participants worked together to categorize, evaluate, and address these challenges. The long-term sustainability of the Baltimore theatre community is threatened by a wide array of complex and interrelated challenges. Creation of a central organization is needed to empower the theatre community for collectively addressing these challenges. Baltimore theatre industry challenge areas which require urgent attention are ensuring fair pay for theatre company staff and artists, audience development, ensuring affordable rehearsal and performance spaces, and partnership development. Efforts made to address these challenges will stabilize the Baltimore theatre community, which is currently unsustainable and unable to grow.

Item Type: Thesis
Uncontrolled Keywords: Theatre, Theatre Challenges, Design Thinking, Human-Centered Design (HCD)
Subjects: N Fine Arts > NX Arts in general
Divisions: Radford University > College of Visual and Performing Arts > Department of Design
Date Deposited: 16 Nov 2021 01:37
Last Modified: 20 Apr 2023 18:19
URI: http://wagner.radford.edu/id/eprint/729

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