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. . .So . . .what is an ARTS MANAGER?

arts-management

I often get this question when I introduce myself, so I thought I would share what Arts Management is in general, and personally as an Arts Management Consultant. . .

With me personally, I saw in the Arts Management field the opportunity to blend together my skill set developed over the course of my career as an attorney and state prosecutor with my training and experience with artists and non-profit organizations. At first blush, comparison of core value of these fields: law and art stand in stark contrast to one another. With one exception: social justice.

Working with the law someone is right and someone is wrong. In order to maintain a civil society, we need specific rules, laws, enforcement. Things are either right or they are wrong. Attorneys often argue in the grey areas, but the law itself is black and white. Judgements and decisions are based on facts and evidence.

Art and non-profits on the other hand as a rule, exist out of the box, they color outside of the lines. They look at black and white and see not grey, but vivid splashes of color as wide an array as the universe!

The legal side of me wants to put everything in order. The arts management side of me picks up on the ideas generated by the artists and creates an alchemy swirling around the social justice issues that are everywhere!!!

So you say, yes, Karen, but what do you do??? Ok, ok! I do marketing, long term planning, board development, event design, brainstorming to clarify and accomplish the mission of my client. Zealously. Enthusiastically.

For example, in one instance, it is the development of a non-profit board formed to address critical issues facing our community, such as literacy, one book at a time.

In another it may involve scouting for the exact location in which to showcase an important project which will exemplify positive aspects of our diverse community.

In another it will be to discover the next great playwright from Detroit. How? produce a theater festival comprised of 10 minute plays about Detroit, written by Detroit playwrights

2017 Detroit is an Arts Management Dream! The Detroit creative community is vibrant and teeming with new ideas, enthusiasm and TALENT!!!

ARTS MANAGERS SHOWCASE THE TALENT OF DETROIT AND INTEGRATE THE ARTISTRY TOWARD COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT.

ARTS MANAGEMENT IS INTEGRATING MANAGEMENT WITH ART TO CREATE SOMETHING AMAZING : MUSICALLY, VISUALLY, AND THEATRICALLY.

Artists are dedicated to their craft, the content of what they do. Their passion. . And they usually have a “day job” that pays the bills. That leaves little or no time to do anything else. Artists concentrate on the value and impact of their work. Arts managers ensure that this work gets the exposure it deserves.

ARTS MANAGERS WORK WITH ARTISTS DEVELOPING THEIR PLANS TO ESTABLISH AND FACILITATE THEIR SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS.

It’s an alchemy: bringing art together with management to get their art out, to celebrate milestones and to showcase their work and the city.

Detroit artists are doing fabulous work. But in order to get their work seen or displayed requires time and effort apart from their core talent. As an arts manager, that’s where I come in. My role is to listen. To ascertain what it is the artist wants to do with their work. We work together to find a niche in the market and create something innovative that builds and expands on what already exists.

And that is what Arts Management means to me.

 

Now. . . Let’s do something AMAZING!!

                                                      

“HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU DETROIT!”

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372 replies added

  1. Jessalyn January 18, 2019 Reply

    I’m rellay into it, thanks for this great stuff!

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