The Financing of Taiwanese Classical Music

Author

Yu-Jung Huang, Fontbonne College

Year of Award

1994

Degree

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

College

College of Business & Professional Studies

Degree Program

Business Administration

Department

Business Administration

Keywords

cultural organization, government

Abstract

In general, current problems in the classical music sector in Taiwan are mainly administrative and management related, but they are also the most fundamental problems. Administration and management have not been executed properly; thus, creating many financial problems, which directly affect the existence of the music organization. Percussion of Taipei is a typical example. Many medium to small organizations in Taiwan have similar experiences where their survival is considered lucky. There are many other music organizations which can not survival the hardship and have to shut down. For the development of music in Taiwan, this are major loses. On the contrary, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in the United States is an example of success. The experience can be transferred to Taiwan where the music organizations in financial difficulties can study. Actually, the strategies used by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for fund raising are not special. The key is that St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has taken action. St. Louis Symphony Orchestra knocked on the door of every individual, foundation and corporation. Naturally, chances of success have increased. Currently in Taiwan, the cultural artists lack this type of recognition. When confronted with similar situations, they will not set aside their social status or the so called artists’ self-respect. Thus, they will forever be stranded in their difficulties and be unable to break through. These problems must be solved by oneself, where in order to solve the problem, one must start with oneself. Also, Taiwan’s music organization should work harder and formulate strategies in their cultivation of audiences. Even though, being faithful to the ideal of the performing arts is very important, but before reaching this goal, the audiences must be educated. In order for the audience to appreciate the music, let the audience understand, “What you are doing”. The music organization at a certain point must touch the audience, before slowly raising together the difficulty of the music being performed. Only then will the audience be able to accept. In time, the music standard for the whole society will raise accordingly. The current situation of music organizations disregarding the audiences and insisted on performing highly difficult music should not continue. Because the audience simply will not respond. If persistent, these activities and performances will lose the touch the public, which is what the group try to reach in the first place. Most of the music organizations in the United States are similar to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Though government funding are very limited, the orchestra continued by being self-proficient, and still achieved growth each year. This is a point, which must be learned in Taiwan. It is a fact that there are only seven government supported music organizations Taiwan. The remaining 97 percent of the music organizations must earn their own livings, and must reply on themselves. Simply waiting for assistance and support from the government will have a limiting effect on their activities. Music organizations must motivate every member of its organizations and systematically and efficiently plan their management and finance strategies, such as publishing compact disk for promoting their organization’s popularity. They should also visit and perform at every sector and level of the society, in order to reach the public. The cultural arts should not be limited to concert halls. It should be part of everyone’s life. From then on, with the government establishing information exchange networks, clarification of communication channels and advisory on the techniques and strategies in administration and management, it is believed that the financing problems of the classical music organizations in Taiwan will improve and be solved.

Document Type

Restricted Thesis

Recommended Citation

Huang, Yu-Jung, "The Financing of Taiwanese Classical Music" (1994). All Theses, Dissertations, and Capstone Projects. 222.
https://griffinshare.fontbonne.edu/all-etds/222