Karthik Subramanian Proposes 'Theatre for Public Good' Framework at Boston Public Library Convening
Last Thursday at the Boston Public Library, Karthik Subramanian convened with theatres, funders, and field partners to explore the theme of "Theatre for Public Good." He outlined four key insights on LinkedIn, clarifying the distinction between Theatre FOR Public Good, which aims to secure public funding for community benefits, and Theatre AS Public Good, which prioritizes the use of theatre to bolster community health and democracy. Their financial models vary: Theatre AS Public Good implements market pricing, whereas Theatre FOR Public Good relies on deep community integration and alternative funding sources. Subramanian emphasized the need for a shift in mindset towards sustainable revenue models, operational frameworks, and governance to ensure that movements endure beyond their founders while practicing shared power.
Key facts
- The convening took place last Thursday at the Boston Public Library with theatres, funders, and field partners.
- Karthik Subramanian authored the LinkedIn post "Theatre As A Public Good."
- Subramanian distinguishes Theatre FOR Public Good from Theatre AS Public Good as different projects with different financial structures.
- Theatre as Public Good centers the art form and can charge market rates while subsidizing access through outside partnerships.
- Theatre for Public Good requires long-term community embedding whose outcomes do not appear at the box office.
- Subramanian argues mutual aid and endowment payouts above 5 to 6 percent both amount to waiting for relief from elsewhere.
- He calls for logic models and systems leaders to align HR, finance, fundraising, and operations across the field.
- He argues movements need governance, not just relationships, to outlive their founders and practice shared power.
Entities
Artists
- Karthik Subramanian
Institutions
- Boston Public Library
Locations
- Boston
- United States