Can you talk about your current position at the American Dance Festival – tasks, hours, and goals?
Currently, I am in the process of transitioning at the American Dance Festival (ADF). My title is Executive Assistant and Office Manager but I am moving into the Development department as the Development Associate. Most of my tasks will change; however, I will still be the assistant to the Executive Director of the American Dance Festival, Jodee Nimerichter.
One of the many beauties of arts administration is how much it can vary depending on the day – very relevant to my position as Office Manager and Executive Assistant. My main responsibilities include making sure the ADF offices run smoothly, fulfilling tasks and projects from the Executive Director, coordinating ADF’s Movies By Movers program, managing the International Choreographer’s Residency program, assisting with the intern program, and managing the move to and from our summer offices during our season. August through March, I am usually at work from 10am until 6pm. Once it gets closer to the season the days start to get longer. During the festival, June and July, I am usually at the office until later in the evening or I am attending performances and events at night. The days during the season are long and fast-paced, and the ADF staff are always on call.
Soon, I will start my position as Development Associate, where my responsibilities will shift. My roles will be focused on running a successful fundraising campaign through donor relations, corporate giving, special events, in-kind donations and executive support. I will continue to work closely with the Executive Director and will also work with the Director of Grants and Donor Operations. For our 40th year in Durham, I want to focus on bringing in more individual donors and local businesses to help celebrate and support the festival. The American Dance Festival has been such an important part of Durham’s history and culture, and I look forward to connecting the two more so than ever.
How did the internship help you decide the career path you wanted to pursue?
When I found out I was accepted as a Development and Special Events intern at ADF in 2014, I had no idea what to expect. The excitement to work for one of the top dance festivals in the world was all I could think about. I did not care if I went on coffee runs all day as long as I could experience working for the festival. I was completely wrong. On the first day I was thrown into tasks and responsibilities. All of a sudden it was up to me to make sure tours of the ADF School operated efficiently, donor events were set up properly, in-kind donations were coordinated, and ADF donors were pleased with their experiences at the festival. I felt like an integral part of the organization, and in turn, my appreciation for arts admin began.
As a double major in dance and communication, the arts administration internship program at ADF was the perfect fit. Durham was my hometown and a place I wanted to come back to but I didn’t think I would want to be an arts administrator down the road. The experience truly changed me. Being involved in the arts everyday is really a dream, and I cannot imagine ever leaving the arts world. The variety in work and community I am a part of makes me excited to come to work every day. Looking back I feel lucky, really, that my first internship out of college taught me that.
How is arts admin also a creative/artistic endeavor?
Working as an arts administrator requires you to constantly adapt to the situation at hand, which allows the individual to be creative in her work. There is a rhythm and fluidity in the work that usually comes full circle, much like the creative process. Things may seem hectic at one point but will always make sense down the road. You definitely do not have to have a strong background in the arts to be an arts administrator but it helps to have an interest. In any job, passion in what you do is key. For me, my background in dance training helps me understand the people I work with at the festival while also providing me with the discipline to handle multiple tasks at once.
What do you love and enjoy about arts administration?
As I said before, one of the aspects of arts administration that I really enjoy is how different the work is on a day-to-day basis. Tasks and experiences are always changing, which keeps work exciting and also challenges me in my career. I love the networking layer of arts admin. I am constantly meeting new people through events with ADF, interactions with artists and choreographers, and exchanges with my coworkers and colleagues. Being connected with the arts community here in Durham, NC and the dance community all over the world is very special and inspiring.
Advice to dancers who are interested in arts administration, but have little experience in it…where and how to begin…
Internships, internships, internships! In college, I had little knowledge of what arts administration was. I applied and was accepted into the 2014 summer internship program at the American Dance Festival; my eyes were opened. I love what I do and can’t imagine not working for the arts in some way. My love for this field started with an internship. I kept my foot in the door at ADF, which was important when a full-time position opened up. I was living in the area and had been an intern the year before, something that many arts organizations are drawn to when hiring. I was recently promoted to the Development department, and everything has come full circle. As someone who did not formally study arts administration in school I would say that gaining experience with arts organizations through internships is the first step.
I can confidently say that every arts organization needs volunteers at some point during the year. When you have some free time and can’t commit to a full-time internship, reach out to local organizations and see how you can get involved. Tell them your interests and where you would most like to be of assistance. We love when people reach out wanting to help!
Check out your local arts council’s website for internship and job opportunities. Join arts meetups, groups, or clubs in your area to network and to find out how to get involved. Attend community events, gallery openings, fairs, and festivals to meet others with similar interests as you and stay connected. Experiences, and getting your name out in the community, are important when it comes to finding a job in arts administration.
------
Related posts:
Five Questions for Nicolle Wasserman of ADF
Blog Series: Becoming an Arts Administrator
Goucher College's MA in Arts Administration
A Modern Dancer's Guide to....Durham, NC
----------------
Comments