Critical Theory in Arts and Cultural Management

We explore the integration of Critical Theory (CT) in the field of arts and cultural management (A&CM) with the aim to advance A&CM beyond traditional economic, technocratic, managerialist frameworks and toward a more reflective, critical and socially engaged discipline. Grounding A&CM in the principles established by Frankfurt School scholars—such as Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, Walter Benjamin, and Jürgen Habermas—we argue for a change in the teaching approaches to cultural management and, by extension, in cultural management practices. More specifically, through applying Critical Theory’s key tenets of being explanatory, normative, and practical, we reevaluate McCarthy and Jinnett’s Arts Participation Model. We demonstrate how cultural management practices can be further transformed and how existing explanatory frames applied in A&CM must adapt to the changing circumstances in which cultural organizations operate. We argue that curricular integration of CT has become timely and urgent with the realignments of power structures post-2025. We stress the need for values-based teaching in A&CM and for values-based action in cultural management.