The Art of "Having It All": Mothers in Performing Arts Administration and the Use of Work-Life Policies

The arts are an exploration, expression, and distillation of the human experience. As such, it is only fitting that organizations that produce art be respectful of the work-life balance of employees. There is a great deal of research on work-life policies and the career paths and obstacles of professional women, but most of this research is restricted to business and academic environments. There is a significant lack of information about women in performing arts management. This paper will explore the use of work-life policies by women in performing arts administration. Survey and interview techniques will be utilized to investigate the use of leave policy, flex time, telecommuting, childcare, and organizational culture. The perspective of working mothers and an exploration of policies that can best support them is vital to deepening gender diversity in art management. This paper will qualitatively assess the current situation and point the way to possible best practices.