COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES: Insights From the Managers of US-Based Arts and Culture Nonprofits

Following the collaborative governance framework, successful implementation of local sustainable development goals depends on collaboration among and the engagement of a variety of public and private actors, including those from the nonprofit sector. This chapter seeks to bring in the often-overlooked context of arts and culture nonprofits and illustrate the diverse roles that such organisations play in their local communities by offering some answers to the following questions: In what ways do arts and culture managers conceptualize their organisations’ contributions to local sustainable development? What are the likely external and internal drivers of such engagement? Perceptions of organisational CEOs and others in leadership positions are important for understanding how the supporters and donors of cultural nonprofits can encourage their socially responsible and engaged behavior that benefits local communities in a variety of ways. The chapter utilizes descriptive data and answers to an open-ended question embedded in the web-based survey collected from the leaders of 438 cultural nonprofits located in 10 US metropolitan areas and conducted in January-April of 2020. The key argument of the chapter is that the commitment to local sustainable development goals represents a form of mission broadening for arts and culture nonprofits seeking to connect with their communities and contribute to local governance in more diverse ways, beyond delivering their artistic and entertainment value. Such commitment is fostered by both internal organisational nellictors and broader considerations of organisational legitimacy stemming from their operational environment and systems of governance in which organisations are embedded.