With lockdowns compromising our ability to attend live theatre, music and other events, the importance of the arts sector and creative industries to our daily lives – and the economy – has never been more apparent.
For Dr Jill Smith AM, Hon Doc Deakin, Chair of Deakin’s Arts and Cultural Management Advisory Board (and former long-serving General Manager of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre and Playbox/Malthouse), the connection is crystal clear.
'We’ve certainly seen through COVID-19 how the arts have pivoted to develop and present work,' Dr Smith says.
The creative industries are one of the fastest-growing, and changing, sectors in the Victorian economy. With that in mind, it’s more important than ever to make sure arts companies are run by highly skilled managers and that individuals have the capacity to run their own businesses when dealing with the new complexities of the environment in which they work.
Crucially, Deakin’s postgraduate arts and cultural management programs are located in the Faculty of Business and Law, allowing a stronger focus on the discipline of management itself. An advisory board of industry experts, including Dr Smith, and previously Sue Nattrass AO (one of Australia’s most well-respected arts managers), has helped guide its growth.
The world has been entertained by the arts and culture industry for the entire pandemic. Everyone has turned to the sector to keep themselves sane, reinforcing the understanding of the essential nature of arts and culture, particularly in the context of rebuilding.
Dr Jill Smith AM, Hon Doc Deakin
Chair of Deakin’s Arts and Cultural Management Advisory Board
Professor Hilary Glow of the Arts and Cultural Management Program says the skills an arts manager needs are cognate with the management skills needed in other enterprises, especially in the not-for-profit sector.
'But the specific context of the arts sector and the creative industries also brings with it a need for specialist knowledge,' she explains.
'Arts organisations are complex organisms that require sophisticated management. People who work in the arts tend to be incredibly passionate about their work and bring that passion to a broad skillset in programming, presentation, marketing and communications, stakeholder engagement and an understanding of cultural policy.'
Just as accessibility should be at the forefront in an arts and culture context, so it is when it comes to teaching and learning. When two key barriers to the program were identified – location and fees – they were immediately addressed by switching the delivery to online and by seeking support for scholarships.
The Sue Nattrass Arts Management Fund was established at Deakin in 2016. Funded by a community of supporters who are passionate about the arts, and built on the foundation of a visionary gift from Vicki Fairfax and the late George Fairfax, it’s made an incredible difference to the lives of recipients from all over the country.
For Eloise Corlett, the scholarship meant being able to travel to the United States for a three-month internship to help manage a major arts event.
'This scholarship has been more than a blessing to me. It’s enabled me to pursue dreams that led to once-in-a-lifetime connections, experiences and practical assistance, and I’m so grateful,' Elosie says.
Programs such as this one are essential for providing opportunities for people with big dreams and little bank accounts. By the end of the first trimester, I’d found my people, my inspiration and my place.
Eloise Corlet
Scholarship recipient
The scholarship helped Kimberly Shea to purchase study resources and provided financial assistance for transport to and from exams, but it was learning at Deakin that also opened her eyes to the individual, social, health, educational and economic benefits of the arts.
'I want to help children like my own grow up in a world that nurtures, embraces and harnesses the arts.'
A new initiative, The Anthony Costa Foundation Arts Management Scholarship, is providing avenues for people with disabilities to forge careers in arts and cultural management.
The foundation is named in honour of the late Anthony Costa. Anthony’s brother, Dr Rob Costa, Hon Doc Deakin, says the foundation strives to give back to the community wherever it can.
The Costa family have a long-standing relationship with Deakin, including the iconic Costa Hall at the Geelong Waterfront Campus, which was recently refurbished. It was Rob’s tenure on the board of the Geelong Arts Centre, while Dr Smith was General Manager, that facilitated a conversation about the need for greater accessibility in the arts.
'I developed huge respect for Jill’s passion for the arts and for making the arts as inclusive as possible,' Costa says. 'There are people who are really keen to be embedded in the arts and arts management who simply don’t get the opportunity. And they’re the sorts of people and groups we think deserve to have somebody get behind them and give them the necessary support.'
And it’s support that is invaluable if the arts sector is to really recover post-pandemic, according to Professor Glow.
'Fundraising in the arts is one thing, but fundraising for student scholarships in a tertiary course in arts management is a whole other difficult beast,' she says.
'So we’re thrilled with the support from our partners. Ultimately it’s the skills of our arts managers that will help us build a sustainable arts sector that can bounce back from COVID and just get better and more exciting.'
Interested in finding out more?
There is a strong demand for responsive and highly trained arts managers to take on leadership roles in the visual and performing arts, heritage and creative industries. Learn more about our arts and cultural management courses.