Franchising the arts

The franchise system of distribution is a viable option for arts organizations, to alleviate debt today and in the future. It allows arts organizations to realize economies of scale by distributing operational costs among their resident communities and expanding their audience and funding base, providing more efficient operation. A description of franchising, with relevance to the arts, and of the Mid-Atlantic Chamber Orchestra, a franchised arts organization, are presented in this thesis. The Orchestra was founded in 1986, when became the resident orchestra of three different rural Virginia communities. Franchising presents an exciting opportunity for arts organizations. Its economic and structural advantages prove its legitimacy and viability in the struggling environment in which arts organizations exist today.