help please - a question for anyone in arts management (Enid, Blu, Beety...)

[harpsichordcarrier]

well I have been thinking about my new career, like you do when you have a new born baby...
medium to long term (say within the next 2-3 years) I would like to get into arts management professionally. I would like start working towards that over hte next year or so.

I have some experience, and I am involved only on a small, local scale now organising events. Is it worth looking into professional qulaifications? or should I just apply to volunteer for arts charities? in what capacity?

any advice gratefully received...

There are some v good MA courses in M.A mgt (Goldsmiths, City, I think) which you may be able to sign up for and do without lots of attendance. I thikk that you will already have good transfrable skills - and particlularly skills which will make you v much appreciated on the Board of an arts organisation.
If you were on the board of a local Arts council funded arts organisation, you could become v lcosely involved in the 'ecology' and learn a lot about the particulars.

IMO you don't neeed an MA in magt to work in the arts, but the other route is in long track record - your transferable skills would be more readily taken on board if you had shown that you were serious about the arts aspect by doing the specific MA. And traject (is that a word?) you into the level you are more suited to.

Keep volunteering, too - and maybe attend some of the particular practical courses organised by the ITC - Independent Theatre Council.

Oooh, I think you should work in the arts, too!

I have been thinking about it for a long time blu...
I organise a lot of local concerts and also have done quite a bit of amateur theatre work. I find it endlessly interesting and put in SO many hours I can't help thinking it might be nice to be paid for some of them one day!
the MA sounds a great idea. thanks

Project funded organisatons often need freelance administrators etc - if you did a couple of the ITC courses - booking a tour, grant applications, perhaps, you could maybe get a series of p/t and / or freelance contracts. they need to be fairly reputable, though to lok good on your CV.

E mail me, and we will have a think about which organisations based in your area you could be approaching.

thanks Blu, you're very kind