Dr. Christos Makridis leads Living Opera Foundation's Arts Research agenda
our priorities
Financial Management in the Performing Arts
This paper analyzes U.S. opera companies' finances from 2005 to 2023, separating cyclical shocks from structural cost growth. It shows where revenue models are most fragile, which cost centers drive deficits, and what levers organizations use to stabilize seasons, offering practical guidance on budgeting, pricing, and donor mix in a high fixed-cost environment.
Stanford University, where Dr. Makridis earned two doctorates
Arts Entrepreneurship and Labor Market Outcomes
This paper uses program and survey evidence to estimate how entrepreneurship training affects artists’ employment, earnings, and career durability. It finds that gains in job matching and self-employment viability, with implications for conservatories and funders designing curricula that translate into work.
our priorities
Christos presenting research at Stanford, October 2025
Christos has published over 100 academic papers...and counting
our priorities
Collaboration across the Performing Arts
This paper maps collaboration models that share spaces, content, and audiences between performing arts groups and museums. It identifies governance and cost-sharing arrangements that raise engagement while lowering acquisition and marketing costs, with clear partnership metrics practitioners can adopt.
conclusion
What measure, we can manage
The arts are often discussed in emotional or aesthetic terms, but sustainable progress depends on evidence. By treating creative work as both cultural expression and economic activity, we can identify what drives resilience, equity, and growth. Living Opera’s research program is built on that premise: rigorous measurement allows us to strengthen the systems that support artists and audiences alike. What we measure, we can manage, and what we manage, we can preserve for future generations.
