White paper on creativity - ebla center

Chapter 1313.5 The performing arts:bureaucracy in the limelightIf we extend our analysis of opera to alllive performing arts, the picture basicallydoes not change much. The basicfeatures of the sectors whose creativity isfocused on the stage appeared to berather similar: stagnancy,“bureaucratisation”, cloning of publicaction in various levels of government,support mechanisms with absolutely noform of incentives, and institutionalconnivance with unofficial labour.Naturally all this does not obscureindividual creativity completely, whichcomes through in various parts of thecountry in innovative theatres,contemporary dance, new forms ofcrossovers between various creativelanguages, and the contribution of videoart and digital art in theatre productions.Nonetheless, these are occasional andisolated cases albeit fairly frequent. InItaly there is no systematic approach tocreativity in the performing arts, sincethe stage production model is still basedon the figure of the head of the theatrecompany, who may show any amount offlair and generosity but is not part of asystematic entrepreneurial approach.Production is focused on the seasonsbecause of a series of regulations whichhave gradually limited the strategic spacefor theatres, imposing uniformconditions according to the number ofrepeat performances and other easilymeasurable data. These elements,however, are hardly representative of thecreative and cultural commitment madeby the various organisations operating inthe performing arts sectors. So, forexample, festivals must rely on amajority of Italian companies, thusimpoverishing international exchanges inlanguage and creativity which are a fertilesource of innovation (in bothdirections). Music seasons mustnecessarily include a quota ofcontemporary compositions, and so on,in a kind of bureaucratic vicious circle ofcultural choices.Table 13.3 - Performances (2006)TheatreActivities*No. ofeventsAdmissionsTicketofficeSpendingby audiencesTurnover168,482 22,506,895 358,387,423 460,516,768 478,204,987Concerts 34,634 9,942,735 177,395,681 251,155,605 274,545,995Danceand musicTouringPerformancesVariousgenres854,193 32,391,060 285,707,462 1,168,890,407 1,199,071,46339,067 10,632,269 87,745,959 275,459,923 275,680,48544,829 1,496,915 9,301,257 98,698,803 115,552,250Total 1,141,205 76,969,874 918,537,782 2,254,721,506 2,343,055,180Source: elaboration of SIAE data* Theatre activities include: drama, literary recitals, opera and operetta, classical and modern ballet,musicals, variety, circus and puppet shows.WHITE PAPER ON CREATIVITY 307