Evaluating theater companies by the Ministry of Culture in France

Abstract

The granting of state subsidies to theater companies in France is based on an evaluation of the companies’ productions by regional teams of expert appraisers. Theater professionals assess the esthetic value of the shows. The companies’ abilities to reach audiences at both the national and international level receives considerable attention, while the cultural impact on the companies’ local population is given less weight. Our research into the assessment mechanisms of the expert-appraiser team in the region of Paris (Île-de-France) concludes our nation-wide study of the resources available to regional French companies to boost their reputations and raise their profiles.