Fundraising as a theatrical event

Abstract

This paper introduces and elaborates the notion of fundraising as a theatrical event. By exploring the theatrical setup, as well as social context, of two elite fundraising events that took place at almost the same time and place and for the same cause, the authors disentangle different components that are at play in a fundraising event. The paper shows that a fundraising event needs to align sensory, artistic, and symbolic theatrical levels to convey the desirability of the fundraising cause. In addition, not only the economic but also the social and cultural capitals of the hosts of the event may be of relevance to the fundraising.