4: Using Theory-Based Approaches to Embed Evaluation within a Small Specialist Performing Arts Institution

This volume has already highlighted the moves in higher education policy to increase the rigour of evaluation. An increased focus on robust, theory driven approaches to evaluation presents significant challenges for small organisations where there is not the expertise or budget to employ specialist evaluators. In particular, small specialist performing arts institutions have a number of distinct barriers to overcome. These include: limited budgets, staff capacity, skill levels and long transition pathways subject to a large number of factors beyond the control of the institution. This creates a tension with widening participation policy which is increasingly demanding on the rigour required for evaluation (OFFA, 2016; Rainford, 2018). Despite these challenges, theory-based approaches to evaluation lend themselves well to developing appropriately focused evaluation in small specialist performing arts providers.