In the ever-evolving arts industry, the demand for well-trained arts professionals who possess the necessary skills and in-depth understanding of the industry's complexities has become increasingly evident. In response to this need, the Arts Management program was developed.
This two-semester graduate certificate program provides students with the hands-on, real-world skills they need to succeed in the array of possible career paths students can pursue within this industry.
To help explain the elements of this program in-depth is Rebecca Peirson, the Program Coordinator and Instructor within the program
Q. WHEN WAS THE PROGRAM CREATED, AND WHY WAS THERE (AND STILL IS) A NEED IN THE ARTS INDUSTRY FOR THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM?
The post-graduate Arts Management program launched in 2015. I was not teaching at Centennial at the time, but I know that industry leaders such as Shelley Crawford (the inaugural Program Coordinator) and several others had done their research, consulted with an ad hoc arts and cultural Advisory Committee made up of arts workers from a variety of organizations in the GTA and beyond and determined there was a need.
The training that the program offers is needed more now than ever as the industry evolves, grows and morphs into requiring arts workers trained in the foundations such as arts marketing, fundraising, financial management, government relations, policy, arts education and more. Also, the industry needs engaged arts workers who are knowledgeable of city planning and development, and the complexities of community needs and how the arts fit into the community and vice versa. It is common practice now for hiring arts organizations to require a post-graduate arts management credential, such as Centennial College’s Arts Management post-graduate certificate.
Q. HOW IS THE CURRICULUM TAUGHT IN THIS PROGRAM?
Courses are delivered in a variety of ways–online, hyflex, on-the-job training, industry speakers–it’s all highly applied. Even in a more traditional classroom setting, students aren’t lectured at for 3 hours (!!!) – new learnings are taught, students analyze and discuss their learnings in groups more often than not, and then they practically apply their learnings.
A very good example of this is Semester One’s Project Planning and Management course which moves to Semester Two’s Event Management course, and this learning results in a student-led professional arts symposium called Arts Ahead. This is just one example of many where students don’t just read case studies; they apply their learnings in real-life arts settings!
Q. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THE PROGRAM STAYS ON TOP OF THE EVOLVING INDUSTRY AND TRENDS?
The program’s Advisory Committee is made up of industry leaders from a wide array of arts organizations (performing arts, arts service organizations, visual arts, museums), and a healthy portion of our meetings involve a round table discussion about industry trends. As well, faculty work in the industry and sit on arts boards.
On top of that, there are oodles of opportunities for students to connect with industry leaders (early career and established) throughout the program–whether it be guest speakers invited into the Careers in the Arts course, mentorship connections or field placement experience.
Lastly, professional development opportunities for both students and professors are promoted in the program. In 2020, select students and faculty went to Iqaluit to work with an Inuit arts organization and just a few months ago, a group went to American University in Washington for the Emerging Arts Leaders Symposium. Experiential learning is crucial for students and faculty to ensure their fingers are on the pulse of the industry!
Hear from Reid, a graduate of the Arts Management program, on their experience at the symposium.
Q. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM THAT YOU BELIEVE CONTRIBUTE MOST TO THE SUCCESS OF GRADUATES?
Pulling from some of what has been mentioned above, here is by no means an exhaustive list of what makes this program stand out:
- Mentorship (it’s a course in first semester, so it’s actually embedded in the program). Sometimes students keep their mentor even once the course wraps!
- Networking opportunities: whether it be industry speakers brought into the classroom, Arts Ahead is a jam-packed day of learning with emerging and seasoned arts workers listening, learning, contributing and breaking bread together or arts venue visits with artists and arts leaders–each offers a multitude of ways to expand students’ contacts.
- Experienced faculty who work in the industry (this is a leg up for students looking for work).
- Seven-Week Field Placement: Students create their own placement objectives and goals and work with their supervisor to create a learning contract. Then for seven weeks, they are fully immersed in their organization of choice.
- Client Work: Students pitch ideas to arts organizations and create a piece of work with value and purpose with their name on it!
- The program runs out of the Story Arts Centre in downtown Toronto. It’s a mere 15 minutes to get to most of our city’s burgeoning arts venues!
- The program is two terms long and concludes at the most opportune time of the year. The end of April is when most arts organizations start their hiring!
Q. WHAT ARE SOME CHARACTERISTICS AND SKILLS STUDENTS OBTAIN UPON COMPLETING THE PROGRAM?
When the students wrap up their year, there is both a common set of skills and abilities they’ve obtained that allow them to launch their careers AND an individualized reality to their learning because of the way the program is built, the way curriculum is taught, the experiential offerings and the contacts students make that start to shape their career path while they are in the program.
Q. WHAT HAS GRADUATE SUCCESS BEEN LIKE FROM THIS PROGRAM OVER THE YEARS?
I can’t help but be proud of the fact that ARTM grads have a high employment rate upon graduation. About 50% of our students get offers from their field placement experience, and the other half are employed soon after graduation. Yesterday, I received an email from a 2023 graduate telling me she got a full-time position at the Toronto Foundation–just 3.5 weeks after the program ended. This is music to my ears!
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This is an outstanding program, with several opportunities for students to succeed within and after the program. If you want to learn more, head to our Program Overview page. Also be sure to check out the episode of our podcast, Storyteller In-Depth, that highlights the Arts Ahead symposium students in our Arts Management program put together HERE.
Article by: Alexandra Few
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