INNOVATION IN ART, INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY, AND THE FUTURE OF THE HIGH ARTS

This paper speculates about the future of the "high arts," the live performing arts plus the fine arts and museums in the United States. It is suggested that their future depends on two factors: first, the impact of technological innovations that produce substitutes capable of competing with live performance; second, the liklihood of artistic innovations that can build and maintain audience interest. The prospects for the individual categories of symphony concerts, opera, dance, theater, and art museums are evaluated separately in relation to those two factors.