As part of this month’s NOW x Humber Digital Residency, we’re profiling faculty and alumni from the Humber community. See all of the profiles here.
What do you do at Humber?
I’m the program director in the Arts Administration and Cultural Management program.
What is your industry role?
Senior consultant, revenue development at Young Associates.
What’s one skill students looking to enter your field absolutely must know?
How to locate, secure and manage resources to ensure that professional artists and their work are adequately supported.
What is the most memorable experience you’ve had working or learning at Humber?
A recurrent memorable experience is when learners “find their jam” through volunteering, field placements and eventually career roles in our sector. The best!
Describe something that inspires you about your industry.
A truly transformative arts experience feels as though it has altered your DNA somehow. Engaging people in these epiphanies is the goal of arts management. And that’s my day job!
The internet and digital technology have upended many creative arts disciplines. How does your Humber program prepare arts professionals for these challenges?
For many of my learners, the Internet and digital realms are their normal. Rather than helping them adapt to change, we discuss how to observe and respond to continuous patterns of change, so that they can carry this forward into their careers.
What’s your favourite Toronto festival?
Toronto is mostly “work” for me. I don’t have a favourite Toronto festival as an attendee! My favourite out-of-town festival that I’ve attended for some years is Summerfolk in Owen Sound. My favourite Toronto festivals are all the ones that hire my grads – Hot Docs, TIFF, Jayu, Luminato, Toronto Fringe, Summerworks and events like Nuit Blanche and Culture Days.
Name a person or organization in your industry who is doing work that you find innovative or inspiring.
Jessa Agilo of ArtsPond is doing fascinating work on alternative organizational models, gentrification and all sorts of policy-wonk things. Christine Pellerin (Humber grad) has recently co-authored a research paper on social finance via the Metcalf Foundation, and is currently a Toronto Arts Council Leaders Lab member. Two someones!
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