The arts and arts management exist in every corner of the world, from the largest city to the smallest town. However, just as a metropolis and a hamlet bear little resemblance to each other despite similar basic needs, arts organizations in the former frequently bear little resemblance to those in the latter, and many foundational arts management texts give little attention to rural settings. This book combines insights from research and practice to fill that knowledge gap and help readers understand arts administration in rural communities.

Focusing on the North American setting but including comparative examples and references from around the world, this book examines how areas of practice familiar to any arts manager work in rural areas, including research and best practices for navigating the paucity of resources frequently encountered in rural communities. Emphasizing a “by rural, for rural” perspective, this book frames the arts as integral components of vibrant rural communities and valuable tools for meeting these communities’ needs.

Written by arts and nonprofit management professors with backgrounds in rural arts research and practice, this book provides a valuable resource for scholars, advanced students and reflective practitioners at the intersection of the arts and rural studies.