The Absence of a Mission Statement in Nonprofit Arts Organizations in Korea

Abstract

The mission/vision of nonprofit arts organizations is like a ‘lighthouse’ that provides those riding a boat the direction to follow. The values arts organizations uphold are articulated in their mission statement, which is a key feature of organizational management and a starting point for the strategic management process (Paulus, 2010). However, in Korea, the key role of mission/vision statement in arts organizations has not been widely understood even among major arts organizations and accordingly, it is not directly linked to their strategic management (Lee & Chung, 2009). Although the absence of mission statements in nonprofit arts organizations in Korea has been concerning, few studies have been conducted to identify and analyze the real state of mission-oriented arts management of Korean arts organizations and consequences of the absence of mission in their management. Our study recognizes the gap in the literature and poses research questions regarding (a) the importance of mission-oriented management, (b) the mission’s role and function in running nonprofit arts organizations; and (c) problems resulting from the absence of mission, such as problems in communication inside and outside the organization, strategic management, and evaluation. We further develop an analytical framework to analyze arts organizations’ mission through a literature review of the key components of arts organizations’ missions. We adopt Voss and Voss’s (2000) five value dimensions of theatres (Prosocial, Market, Financial, Achievement, and Artistic Dimension), Boorsma and Chiaravalloti’s (2010) three artistic values (Customer, Societal, and Professional) arts organizations pursue, and McCarthy and Jinnett’s (2001) nine mission elements (Appreciation, Exposure, Community, Create New Art, Creativity, Preservation, Present New Art, Artists Training, Funding Art) salient to arts organizations. The resulting analytical framework we use is composed of Market, Prosocial, and Artistic dimensions. The purpose of our paper is to examine the current state of management of Korean arts organizations with regard to a mission they may have identified and the degree to which they adhere to that mission. To achieve our objective, we research 129 websites of art museums and arts centers in the Seoul metropolitan area, which are selected based on National Survey of Korean Arts and Cultural Organizations published by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (2016). We analyze the mission statements posted on arts organization websites by evaluating their Market, Prosocial, and Artistic dimensions as developed in our analytical framework and provide suggestions for the future direction of arts organizations’ missions in Korea. We believe that this study will enrich our understanding of the current state of the management of Korean nonprofit arts organizations regarding a “mission/vision” and eventually help managers and directors of nonprofit arts organizations in Korea establish a culture of mission-oriented management.