Careers in Arts Management

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Creative Thought in the Workplace:Careers in Arts Management

featuringMeredith Hodges

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Careers in Arts Management

I. About MeredithII. Overview of the IndustryIII. How to Research the IndustryIV. What are Firms Looking For?V. What to Expect in the Job Search ProcessVI. Q&A

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About Meredith

Education:• Graduate of Harvard Business School (MBA ’10) and

Harvard University (B.A. Social Anthropology ‘03)

Previously:• Senior Associate Consultant at Bain & Company• Finance Manager at The Museum of Modern Art• Executive Director Fellow at The Public Theater• Have also worked in film and dance

Currently:• Project Director at The Museum of Modern Art• 5+ years of experience in non-profit management and

careers in the arts

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Overview of the Industry

Non-Profit / Mission-Driven

Commercial

Visual Arts • Museums • Auction Houses• Galleries

Performing Arts

• Theater, Opera, Ballet Companies

• Some venues (e.g. Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall)

• Broadway• Some venues (e.g. concert

venues)

Media • Public radio/television• Some production

companies (especially documentary film)

• Hollywood• Television• Gaming

Funding • Foundations • Media-focused investment companies

• M&A departments

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Overview of the Industry

Creative workplac

e

Diverse colleagu

es

Using your

powers for good

Great perks,

parties, and

stories

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How to Research the Industry

• Recommended listservs and websites– Artsjournal.com (daily news)– Elnya.com (issues, events and job postings)– Idealist.org (job postings)– Nyfa.org (job postings for NYC)– Variety and Hollywood Reporter

• Organization websites– Most reliable place for job postings– Annual reports will have detailed information about mission, org structure, financials

• Guidestar.org (non-profit only)– Free registration required– 990 filings for non-profits

• Short-term engagements with an arts organization– Internships– Field studies– Volunteer consulting– Board membership– Usually no or low comp, but you’re “testing a hypothesis” about your career

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What are Firms Looking For?

This Not This

• Real understanding of the organization and its mission

• A false sense of the industry’s glamour• “I thought this would be easier than my

investment banking job”

• Experience in a particular function: marketing, fundraising, operations

• Someone who needs training from scratch

• Poise, maturity, well-spoken-ness• Good writing skills

• Someone who can’t communicate with the artistic staff

• Someone who can’t be left with a donor

• Willingness to start at an entry level (especially for commercial organizations)

• Unrealistic expectations about pay, initial responsibility

• Demonstrated interest in the arts • Virtuoso performance career

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What to Expect in the Job Search Process

• Very long cycle time, with no set recruitment season– START EARLY– Combine general networking with applications to specific job openings

• Network-based hiring– Have networking conversations / “Informational Interviews”– Use alumni networks from your college and grad school– Use networks from previous jobs– Use family and friend networks (everyone has a friend who has an

uncle who worked at . . .)– Attend industry conferences if you’re running dry on personal contacts– Have an articulate, 2-sentence explanation of the job you’re trying to

get

• Formal Interviews– Similar to other industries: prior experience, interest, fit

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Q&A

• Questions please!

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Questions & Answers

Question 1:

Coming from a consulting background, is business experience important for an arts career?

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Questions & Answers

Question 2:

Why did you choose an MBA over an MA?

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Questions & Answers

Question 3:

Have you noticed any particular traits essential to an arts career vs. a business career?

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Questions & Answers

Question 4:

What biases did you have working for Bain Consulting?

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Questions & Answers

Question 5:

Is there a lot of mobility within career progression?

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Questions & Answers

Question 6:

What is your 2-sentence pitch when searching for jobs?

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Questions & Answers

Question 7:

What is the best perk at your job?

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Thanks for Joining!

Book a one-on-one session with Meredith at www.evisors.com/expert/407

View our past webinars at evisors.com/webinars

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