Autonomy within sheltered theatres : a survey analysis

A sheltered theatre is one that functions under the "umbrella" of a larger organization which may be a university, museum, arts center, library, or a government agency. This study is a survey of existing sheltered theatres identified through theatre guides, directories, indexes, and contacts with theatre personnel. The purpose of this investigation was to discover the degree of autonomy experienced by theatre managers within this framework. The areas under consideration within this context of autonomy are limitations placed on fundraising, general and specific management decisions, provisions for future stability, and levels of cooperation between the theatre and the larger organization.

The study revealed that sheltered theatres are operating at an advantage to other nonprofit theatres due to a certain percentage of contributed income from the larger organization. A disadvantage was revealed in the loss of autonomy by theatre management with the intrusion of a level of interference by officers of the larger organization. As a result of this interference, some sheltered theatres are seeking solutions to these problems by separating from the larger organization, while some are working for organizational improvements within the existing alliance with the larger organization.