1. Welcome to the Evisors Webinar
Visit us online at www.evisors.com
Creative Thought in the Workplace:
Careers in Arts Management
featuring
Meredith Hodges
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2. Careers in Arts Management
I. About Meredith
II. Overview of the Industry
III. How to Research the Industry
IV. What are Firms Looking For?
V. What to Expect in the Job Search Process
VI. Q&A
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3. 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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4. 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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5. Overview of the Industry
Creative
workplace
Diverse
colleagues
Using your
powers for
good
Great
perks,
parties,
and stories
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6. 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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7. 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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8. 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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10. Questions & Answers
Question 1:
Coming from a consulting background, is
business experience important for an arts
career?
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11. Questions & Answers
Question 2:
Why did you choose an MBA over an MA?
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12. Questions & Answers
Question 3:
Have you noticed any particular traits
essential to an arts career vs. a business
career?
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13. Questions & Answers
Question 4:
What biases did you have working for Bain
Consulting?
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14. Questions & Answers
Question 5:
Is there a lot of mobility within career
progression?
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15. Questions & Answers
Question 6:
What is your 2-sentence pitch when
searching for jobs?
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16. Questions & Answers
Question 7:
What is the best perk at your job?
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17. 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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