The Arts like Theatre, Opera, and Music are told to be the oldest forms of entertainment. Even with no technology back even before Jesus, they still had the most important value to make these things possible, Communication. It is the peanut butter and jelly of a sandwich. It makes the operation work and let’s the audience have an amazing journey with the musicians. The Arts and Communication work hand and hand together because it hires specialists to work with others to make an amazing performance. Communication is mostly looked at like a culture talking to each other from one person to another but music has always been a universal language. All cultures can relate to it and communicate with others who are not their own. The Arts are the same way. Whatever you might call it, a business, a company, or even a community, The Arts is and always will be the number one entertainment of the world but sadly it has no funding from the government at all. With no funding, there will be no shows and most importantly, no pay.
The things that excite you are not random. They are connected to your purpose. Follow them! That is a saying that I believe in. In the short story, This is the Life, written by Annie Dillard, she mentions life with the word value. “Since everyone around you agrees ever since there were people on earth that land is value, or labor is value, or learning is value, or title, necklaces, degree, murex shells, or ownership of salves.” (Annie Dillard) The word value is defined as, ‘the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.’ The Arts is value. Communication is value. I have been exposed to the arts ever since I was a baby. My dad is a singer and my mom loved the theatre. They made it a point for our family of three boys to go consistently to see all of the live theatre productions that were on tour.
Music and the stage became something that I was very good at and something that I love. At the theater, a single production brings together all kinds of talented people. These include the actors, musicians, playwrights, designers, and the creative specialists in scene construction and lighting. Live performances whether in music or in live theatre productions draws communities together. I have spent hundreds of hours at rehearsals and in shows. It is because of this, that I have decided that I am going to follow what is important to me. I understand the value of this business and I have decided to make a career out of my passion and that is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and then a Masters Degree in Arts Management.
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Today, having a Communications Degree is so important in our fast-moving world. We have different verbal and nonverbal communications depending on the culture and the generation. However, the goal of communication has not changed. In this major, the study places a high emphasis on the use of theory and research in the real-world problems and everyday life that humans have in their interactions. Daily life in the 21st century is all about communication weather it is in person, on the phone, of even face-time. Through this, we can explore, learn and discover. People, cultures, and individuals come to understand each other better. Our personal and family activities as well as time off are shaped by information and communication. It is right in front of our eyes but we have grown accustom to see it.
Most professional companies want to hire graduates with this degree because they understand the importance of communication skills in their offices and with their employees. Communication majors find many career opportunities which can include broadcasting, journalism, social media, social network, administration, education, and public relations. Many people say that the Communications degree is so broad and its not a real focus on a particular subject. Why is this bad though? If a person is educated in a subject that covers so many basics, than they are more educated than most on real life interactions. This is also an excellent step into the preparation for a graduate program which is what I am interested in doing.
On the other side, an Arts Management career involves not only experience in the arts but it requires a vision and skills trained in administration. This field includes business operations around any art organization. This position is so important because it can either lead to the success or failure of a business. It is this purpose that guides their mission. A complex position where the training and a college degree is essential to be marketable. You must oversee the structure of the theater, and also work with people in marketing, budgeting, fundraising, management, public and board relations, and the day to day operations. Many successful careers are in large organizations such as theaters, symphonies, and musical performances. This position can also work with youth, plan events such as performing arts competitions, open studios, galleries, exhibitions and more.
Since this position includes actors, directors, production personnel and audience members, demands from all of them occur daily. Having the experience of being a performer and an actor helps immensely because you can relate to their problems and concerns as well as their excitement and challenges.
Also, the audience and the commitment to the arts is very important to people. It use to be you would see only older people attending theater. Not anymore! People pay huge prices to see shows as evident by shows such as Hamilton, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, etc. New York and Broadway are destinations for travel! There is a growing demand for Art Management careers. These jobs need people who have the skills to manage and coordinate theatre arts. This position bridges the world of performing and visual arts with applied managerial skills. Leadership and public relations as well as “people skills” are vital. This job requires cooperation and collaboration every day.
In addition, another challenge is the long hours. Most shows are done in the evenings including weekends and holidays. Arts Management positions put in many more hours than they actually get paid for. The pay then is extremely low for the amount of time you are dedicated to put in. It takes countless hours of rehearsal, costume and stage design to get to the point where the curtain will finally rise. However, your job is not over. It has only begun! As the one in charge, your responsibilities to the performers and the audience is just beginning. It is your job to make sure everything flows and your audience is happy.
Even though Arts Management is a creative job with experiences that change often, it brings challenges also. In the short story written by George Orwell, he talks about what is science. In this passage, he is mentioning the meaning of Science and what people educated or not think of it. He says, “Implied in the demand for more scientific education is the claim that if one has been scientifically trained one’s approach to all subjects will be more intelligent than if one had no such training.” (George Orwell) Like Scientist, you need a lot of educated people in the Arts. There are many musicians, actors, directors, and choreographers around. However, one of the biggest problems is that there is no funding for the arts anymore. We see these big, beautiful, artistic theaters that stand out when you walk by and the sad truth is that no one in there makes much money. According to Ron Ellison, a professor at Irvine Valley College says, ‘most of the funding that goes into theaters, go straight to the set and management.’
A quote from The Tylt article in May 23, 2016. ‘The U.S. spends far, far less on arts funding than out European counterparts do.’ (The Tylt) In this article, they even quote Michelle Obama who said, ‘The arts are not just a nice thing to have or to do if there is free time or if one can afford it… they define who we are as a people and provide an account of our history for the next generation.’ (The Tylt) These are words that have never been so true. Thanks to our new president, he wants to abolish all the funds for the Arts. Even though we made less than one percent from the government. If this happens, we can kiss away all forms of entertainment. Even television! There are actors all over this country who are looking for jobs every year. No gets hired because there is no money.
As people start their career, they love to work at small Theatre’s and learn the skills needed. But since the demand is high for good people, they leave the small operations and the low salary and go to more prestigious theaters that can afford to pay them higher salaries. The smaller companies have a difficult time attracting talented personnel because they cannot afford to pay them. This puts the theater at risk.
Future challenges also include technology changes that come at a high price, ticket prices that are exorbitant, audience members that cannot afford to purchase season tickets anymore, appealing to the types of shows that people who are so busy with their lives will make an effort to attend, and most important, that the arts are not funded properly. “The current state of the arts in this country is a microcosm of the state of the nation. Large, mainstream arts institutions, founded to serve the public good and assigned non-profit status to do so, have come to resemble exclusive country clubs. Meanwhile, outside their walls, a dynamic new generation of artists, and the diverse communities where they live and work, are being systematically denied access to resources and cultural legitimation.” February 3, 2016 (Douglas McLennan)
Funding is the most challenging issue in the career I have chosen. Schools don’t make the arts a priority anymore. Students are not exposed to music, theatre, etc. and therefore, only very small numbers are understanding the beauty and appreciation of the arts. Parents have to pay privately to expose them to it or for lessons. Many cannot afford to get them singing lessons or have private instrumental lessons. The arts are the first to go in budget cuts because the arts are not part of standardized testing. In comparison to other countries, the arts in the United States are very underfunded. In recent years, many organizations such as symphonies and bands in the U.S. had to file for bankruptcy.
Why would I want to go into this field since the arts is not a priority especially in funding? I believe I can make a difference. First of all, I have a love for the arts and a deep desire to share this with people. It is important that the arts have the power to change communities. Having young people follow their passions and talent is something that should be an essential part of where they live. It is so important to have Arts Management that have the vision and love for the arts. This career takes preparation to be able to do the managerial, financial, marketing, fundraising and most important the communication that is needed to successfully run an arts organization. It will take strong, trained individuals including those who have knowledge of budgets, grants, the arts, the community, etc. to continue to push for more funding just as we do for parks and libraries.
With Arts Management expertise and insight into creative ways to achieve this, they will be able to help find resources that communities and the arts deserve to continue with access to them. As an Arts Manager, you have to have artistic skills and the skill to understand how the organization works. A great combination of a degree in Communication and a Masters Degree in Arts Management with experience working in theater and music, along with enthusiasm and a positive attitude will help the perseverance to be more confident in the career I have chosen. The only way we can save the Arts and put more funding into it, is to work together and make it clear that Music and visual Arts are an important value to what makes America its great self.
