Rupal Shah, an instructor in our Arts Management program, has been named the new Director, Policy & Programs for the Toronto Arts Council!
As a highly experienced professional with over two decades of experience engaging with artists and communities, Rupal brings a wealth of knowledge into the classroom as she teaches the first-semester course: “Creation, Production and Dissemination of Art.”
Find out more about Rupal’s new role, her experience teaching at Centennial, how she got into the arts, and more below:
Q. What has your experience been like since you first learned about this new role as Director of Policy & Programs until now?
The past few months have been a whirlwind. I came back to the Toronto Arts Council to take on the role after about three years away. When I left the Council in 2020, it was a different world and, in some ways, a different arts community. I’m still getting acclimatized to the “new normal.” It’s been exciting for me to re-engage with a familiar place I love but in a new way.
Q. What do some of the responsibilities look like in this role?
I ask a lot of questions, and I try to listen as much as possible. Currently, my focus is learning how to support my colleagues best. One of my long-term priorities is to work with our team to make Toronto Arts Council’s programs even more equitable, accessible, and responsive to arts community needs.
Q. How did your journey begin in the arts? Did you always know you wanted a career within this field?
I knew in high school that I wanted a career in theatre. I didn’t go to university for theatre–I did a degree in English Literature and South Asian Studies instead, but it was a huge part of my extra-curricular life.
After graduation, I did almost every theatre and performing arts job I could. In those first years, I was a stage manager, tour manager, company manager, sales manager and production manager. I worked in front-of-house as an usher, backstage as technical and event support, and in the office as an administrator. I even assistant-directed a few summer plays.
After a few years, I realized that all those positions had been leading me towards theatre producing, and I spent several years as an arts administrator and producer at places like Obsidian Theatre and Nightswimming. Through those positions, I found that supporting artists and their process was extremely rewarding. I was happiest when I was able to help artists and creators fulfill their vision. As a producer, I loved the balance between being in rehearsal and having discussions about the work itself and also spending time deep in grant applications and budgets.
At a certain point, I decided I wanted to understand how the broader sector operated, and I transitioned into a position as a program manager at the Toronto Arts Council. The job had a multi-disciplinary focus, which meant that I was not attached to a particular art form or arts community. It was an invaluable experience for me as I learned how to manage granting programs that served galleries, festivals, performing arts, visual arts, music, community-engaged arts and much more. I also oversaw granting programs that focused on supporting newcomer professional artists to develop their artistic practice and career here in Canada.
Q. What do you enjoy most about teaching in the Arts Management program at Centennial?
One of the things I enjoy about the course is that about half of our classes occur in the field. We visit art galleries such as The Power Plant and the Museum of Contemporary Art. We experience theatre, dance, and music at venues across the city and also learn about multi-use art spaces like The Bentway. I also love meeting the students and learning about their career aspirations. Many have a background in art, and they all have a strong interest in art and artists. Many students also come from outside Canada, which brings a diversity of perspectives to the class. Hearing their opinions and observations about our ever-changing arts and culture scene is energizing.
Q. How do you think this program helps prepare students for a career after graduation?
The Arts Management program exposes students to so many different facets of what a career in the arts could look like. From fund development, government relations and advocacy to marketing and communications, it’s a fantastic survey of everything it takes to be an arts manager in Canada. In addition, the opportunity to experience a work placement out in the field is key. The last thing I’ll say is that my course, “Creation, Production and Dissemination of Art,” is unique in its focus. The opportunity to experience artistic work and discuss it and analyze it with peers is special. Students can use that learning to inform future career interests as well as understand the artistic process (and how to support it) better.
Q. What advice would you give to someone starting in the Arts Management program and those just about to enter this industry?
- See as much art as you can.
- Don’t be shy. Reach out to folks who are doing work that interests you.
- Keep an open mind about your future path. There are so many jobs in the arts that you might not even know exist!
Congratulations, Rupal!
Article by: Alexandra Few
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Photo taken by Denise Militzer for locallove.ca