Artsline: Fall 2020
Featured Articles
Interview with Deonté Griffin-Quick
Ballroom Expantion of The National Museum of American Jewish History
The Pew Center Gives Upwards of $10.5 Million In Grants
Ballroom Expantion of The National Museum of American Jewish History
The Pew Center Gives Upwards of $10.5 Million In Grants
Letter from the Editor
Welcome to the Fall 2020 edition of Artsline!
Hello! My name is Liz Sloan, and I will be the ArtsLine editor for the next three issues. It feels as if we just started classes, but the quarter is almost over and winter is coming!
Yes, that was a Game of Thrones reference.
I'd like to share a little about me: I'm from an hour south of Pittsburgh, PA near Washington county. My part-time job is creating content, PR, and marketing for my lifestyle blog foxandluxe.com (@foxandluxe). I received my bachelor's degree in vocal performance and dove into content creation during that time - I absolutely love it!My current career goal is to build and run a social media marketing service for young artists. I want to teach people how to properly utilize socila media to further their careers.
Liz Sloan
ArtsLine editor 2020-2021
(724)550-8422
Hello! My name is Liz Sloan, and I will be the ArtsLine editor for the next three issues. It feels as if we just started classes, but the quarter is almost over and winter is coming!
Yes, that was a Game of Thrones reference.
I'd like to share a little about me: I'm from an hour south of Pittsburgh, PA near Washington county. My part-time job is creating content, PR, and marketing for my lifestyle blog foxandluxe.com (@foxandluxe). I received my bachelor's degree in vocal performance and dove into content creation during that time - I absolutely love it!My current career goal is to build and run a social media marketing service for young artists. I want to teach people how to properly utilize socila media to further their careers.
Liz Sloan
ArtsLine editor 2020-2021
(724)550-8422
Keep in touch!
Subscribe to ArtsLine and periodic AAML communication here.
Letter from the Program Directors
Welcome to the fall issue of Artsline. First and foremost, we hope you and your families are all safe and well as we navigate these challenging times. We began a new academic year like no other, with new approaches to our teaching, learning, and research. We welcomed a talented new cohort of graduate students; whose optimism and resilience are inspiring. You are the future of our field, and we know you will be the new type of leader we need to sustain and grow the sector. Our faculty are all seasoned instructors in the classroom and online, so we welcome this opportunity to learn with you. We know this time is difficult, but times of disruption are also times for innovation, and we embrace innovative approaches in all we do.
Despite the challenges of gathering in person, we’ve held virtual guest lectures, social events, and more. Our students and alumni are the heart of our program, and we’re always looking for ways to keep them connected with us even when we can’t gather on campus. In December, we’ll see many of our students complete their degrees. They are wrapping up their theses and practicum projects, and we’re so proud of what they’ve accomplished.
We’re looking forward to the year ahead, knowing that we’ll all get through these challenging times and emerge stronger, more resilient, and ready to build the future we want for ourselves. In the meantime, please take care of yourselves and your families and do not hesitate to reach out to us should you need assistance.
Despite the challenges of gathering in person, we’ve held virtual guest lectures, social events, and more. Our students and alumni are the heart of our program, and we’re always looking for ways to keep them connected with us even when we can’t gather on campus. In December, we’ll see many of our students complete their degrees. They are wrapping up their theses and practicum projects, and we’re so proud of what they’ve accomplished.
We’re looking forward to the year ahead, knowing that we’ll all get through these challenging times and emerge stronger, more resilient, and ready to build the future we want for ourselves. In the meantime, please take care of yourselves and your families and do not hesitate to reach out to us should you need assistance.
Neville Vakharia
Program Director,
Arts Administration & Museum Leadership
Program Director,
Arts Administration & Museum Leadership
Dr. Laura-Edythe Coleman
Program Director,
Arts Administration & Museum Leadership, Online
Program Director,
Arts Administration & Museum Leadership, Online
Faculty Highlights
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Neville Vakharia was appointed Associate Dean of Research for the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. In this role, Neville will work to increase the scope, reach, and impact of our faculty's research, scholarship, and creative activity. He is collaborating with colleagues at George Mason University on an NEH-funded research project to create a census of all historic sites within the United States and create an interactive data visualization that will be used as part of the activities surrounding the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. He is actively interviewed by Bloomberg Radio on the challenges facing small arts organizations and nonprofits due to the pandemic. Neville's Leadership, Strategy, and Planning course is working with the new Neon Museum of Philadelphia to develop strategies to prepare for their opening. Also, Neville and his family welcomed a new puppy, Louise, into their family. She is a mini Goldendoodle and is a very good girl. Click here for Neville's Drexel bio.
Laura-Edythe Coleman has been cataloging and growing our lending library here: https://aaml.librarika.com/. This lending library is open to all AAML students and alums. Please make an account and check out a book today. She is conducting research with several graduate research assistants from our MUSL concentration: together, she and Heather McLaughlin are writing a chapter on 20th-century museums for a Library/Archive/Museum history textbook. She and Rebecca McCarron are doing background research on her next book Curatorial Voice to be published next year, and she and Kristina Robold are performing editorial work for Curator: The Museum Journal. Laura-Edythe has also been hosting social events online and sometimes socially distanced in-person! Click herefor Laura-Edythe's Drexel bio. Andrew Zitcer is celebrating the release of a study he co-authored on the financing of creative placemaking along with his colleagues at Drexel’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation. It was funded by ArtPlace America and the Kresge Foundation. He would be happy to do a presentation on its findings for students and faculty! He is also planning to participate in a panel of experts at the October Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit on creative placemaking and resilience in a post-COVID world. Andrew is excited to be working with an undergraduate Drexel STAR Scholar on extending his project called Locating Artists in the Creative Economy to a large-scale artist survey in collaboration with AAML faculty and a colleague at Virginia Commonwealth University. Click here for Andrew's Drexel bio. Julie Goodman Recently completed a review and report analyzing the more than 13,000 public opinion survey responses received by the city of Philadelphia, regarding its decision to move the Christopher Columbus statue from Marconi Plaza in South Philadelphia. She began serving as Department Head of Arts & Entertainment Enterprise in April, charged with oversight and support of the undergraduate programs in the Entertainment & Arts Management and Music Industry as well as the graduate program in Arts Administration & Museum Leadership. She also quoted in a Dance Magazine article about the impacts of COVID-19 on arts administration. Click here for Julie's Drexel bio. Lily Millroy gave a lecture titled "Assembling Fairmount Park" as part of the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia's "Building Philadelphia" series on April 21. Click here for more information! October 30, she is giving a lecture titled "Past and Present in Fairmount Park" for the Fairmount Park Conservancy. Lily has also been staying close to home since the lockdown but is still giving public lectures (via zoom). Click here for Lily's Drexel bio. Derek Gillman (pictured on the right) is currently working with his two co-editors on completing the manuscript for Culture and Value: The Preservation of Heritage in Times of War (Oxford University Press, 2021). He's been working with Ros Remer, Director of the Lenfest Center, in preparation for the City’s petition to Philadelphia Orphan’s Court to transfer the Atwater Kent Collection to the University; the Collection is presently being evaluated by a Drexel team that includes recent Westphal graduates. Derek has also been working with Cara Fry, Lynn Clouser Waddell (Drexel Collection), Clare Sauro (FHCC), Robert Peck (ANS), Matthew Lyons (University Archives), Joanne Murray and Margaret Graham (Legacy Center), and Debjani Bhattacharyya (CoAS) on an exhibition highlighting the University Collections for the newly renovated gallery in the Paul Peck Alumni Building on Market Street. He is collaborating with Art and Art History colleagues on the department’s DEI survey, providing information to Westphal’s DEI Council and, of course, preparing this quarter’s teaching: the ‘Bricks and Mortar’ graduate class on building and renovating museums. Click here for Derek's Drexel bio. Pamela Yau was excited to partner with Professor Clare Sauro, Curator of the Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection at Drexel University for the Creative Enterprise and Innovation course. Arts Administration and Museum Leadership Students would apply what they learn during the course to compose recommendations to deal with the most urgent needs and issues the Fox Historic Costume Collection is facing as a result of the impact of COVID-19. These recommendations will be in turn sent to Professor Sauro and her FHCC team at the end of the term to help them as they plan for the future. Click here for Pamela's Drexel bio. |
Alumni & Student News
Suzanne (Smalley) Beers ('06) is now the Director of Major Gifts at Wills Eye Hospital.
Dorilona Rose (’08) was promoted to Director, Policy and External Affairs in Drexel University’s College of Engineering Office of the Dean in June 2019. In her role, she is responsible for supporting faculty affairs and awards, including policies, procedures, faculty hiring, communications, and special projects.
Megan Toomey ('18) is the new Producer for Drexel's Dance Ensemble and FreshDance companies.
Jasmine Johnson ('19) is now the Development Associate at the Moore College of Art & Design.
Andy Sabol ('19) is now the Operations Manager at Project 440.
Jillian Magee ('19) is now the Main Street Manager at Building a Better Boyertown.
Sarah Christy ('20) was promoted to the chief operating officer at the International House of Philadelphia. Ms. Christy joined the International House in March of 2014 and has served in several capacities, most recently overseeing all public programs in the role of director of programs and managing director of Lightbox Film Center. Link to Article
Sarah K. Mettin ('20) was named artistic associate of Metropolitan Ballet Company in Jenkintown, PA. Link to Article
Mackenzie Tansey ('20) is now the Grant Writer at Building a Better Boyertown.
Dorilona Rose (’08) was promoted to Director, Policy and External Affairs in Drexel University’s College of Engineering Office of the Dean in June 2019. In her role, she is responsible for supporting faculty affairs and awards, including policies, procedures, faculty hiring, communications, and special projects.
Megan Toomey ('18) is the new Producer for Drexel's Dance Ensemble and FreshDance companies.
Jasmine Johnson ('19) is now the Development Associate at the Moore College of Art & Design.
Andy Sabol ('19) is now the Operations Manager at Project 440.
Jillian Magee ('19) is now the Main Street Manager at Building a Better Boyertown.
Sarah Christy ('20) was promoted to the chief operating officer at the International House of Philadelphia. Ms. Christy joined the International House in March of 2014 and has served in several capacities, most recently overseeing all public programs in the role of director of programs and managing director of Lightbox Film Center. Link to Article
Sarah K. Mettin ('20) was named artistic associate of Metropolitan Ballet Company in Jenkintown, PA. Link to Article
Mackenzie Tansey ('20) is now the Grant Writer at Building a Better Boyertown.
Want to contribute to the Winter Quarter of ArtsLine or have news you'd like to share? Email the editor, Liz, at eas483@drexel.edu!
Make sure to follow us on social media below to stay up to date with Drexel Arts Administration & Museum Leadership.
Make sure to follow us on social media below to stay up to date with Drexel Arts Administration & Museum Leadership.
ArtsLine: Winter/Spring 2020
Featured Articles
Letter from the Editor
Welcome to the Winter/Spring 2020 edition of Artsline!
Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of seeing New York City Center’s Encores production of Mack and Mabel. Mack and Mabel, a 1974 Broadway flop by the late Jerry Herman of Hello Dolly fame, follows the dramatic, romantic entanglement between silent movie pioneer Mack Sennett, played by Douglas Sills, and his first great discovery and muse, the comedienne Mabel Normand, played by Alexandra Socha. The production was brilliant! Given the very brief rehearsal period, I was blown away by the performances, staging, choreography, and full orchestra.
For those of you who don’t know, New York City Center’s Encores series celebrates the tradition of American musical theater with revivals featuring original orchestrations as they were meant to be heard. With only a brief rehearsal period, these classics are presented for one week only. Typically, the productions they choose to mount are considered “hidden gems” of American musical theatre, having only briefly been on Broadway or Off-Broadway and have rarely, if ever, been produced since. For a musical theatre lover like myself, seeing these forgotten shows is a wonderful opportunity.
The Encores series actually inspired my brother and I to start our own theatre company in Philadelphia that also aims to produce little-known “hidden gems” of musical theatre. De Novo Theatre Company had its inaugural season in 2019 where we presented Olympus On My Mind (a 1986 Off-Broadway show) and ended with the hilarious and wildly-successful Disenchanted! (a 2014 Off-Broadway show). So many current offerings in mainstream theatre are based on pop culture (movies, TV shows, music albums) or revivals of classic, well-known shows, with little variety or originality that De Novo Theatre Company aims to reverse this trend by bringing new life to little-known plays and musicals through concerts and productions with limited staging using local talent. With a spotlight on these “hidden gems” the De Novo Theatre Company welcomes audiences to open their minds and be educated and entertained.
I am fortunate to be attending Drexel University during the early stages of starting this theatre company. As De Novo's acting Business Manager, my classes at Drexel University’s Arts Administration & Museum Leadership Program have helped me to learn all the ins and outs of running a successful nonprofit theatre company. Each class has offered insight to new topics I must consider when starting a theatre company. For the various class projects, I have used De Novo Theatre Company as my model organization so my project research and outcomes can be directly applied to De Novo Theatre Company.
I am so happy and grateful to be here at Drexel University. For my remaining three quarters, I look forward to learning more theoretical knowledge and practical skills to apply to any real life job situations I may encounter going forward.
Jackie DiFerdinando
ArtsLine editor 2019-2020
jad548@drexel.edu
Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of seeing New York City Center’s Encores production of Mack and Mabel. Mack and Mabel, a 1974 Broadway flop by the late Jerry Herman of Hello Dolly fame, follows the dramatic, romantic entanglement between silent movie pioneer Mack Sennett, played by Douglas Sills, and his first great discovery and muse, the comedienne Mabel Normand, played by Alexandra Socha. The production was brilliant! Given the very brief rehearsal period, I was blown away by the performances, staging, choreography, and full orchestra.
For those of you who don’t know, New York City Center’s Encores series celebrates the tradition of American musical theater with revivals featuring original orchestrations as they were meant to be heard. With only a brief rehearsal period, these classics are presented for one week only. Typically, the productions they choose to mount are considered “hidden gems” of American musical theatre, having only briefly been on Broadway or Off-Broadway and have rarely, if ever, been produced since. For a musical theatre lover like myself, seeing these forgotten shows is a wonderful opportunity.
The Encores series actually inspired my brother and I to start our own theatre company in Philadelphia that also aims to produce little-known “hidden gems” of musical theatre. De Novo Theatre Company had its inaugural season in 2019 where we presented Olympus On My Mind (a 1986 Off-Broadway show) and ended with the hilarious and wildly-successful Disenchanted! (a 2014 Off-Broadway show). So many current offerings in mainstream theatre are based on pop culture (movies, TV shows, music albums) or revivals of classic, well-known shows, with little variety or originality that De Novo Theatre Company aims to reverse this trend by bringing new life to little-known plays and musicals through concerts and productions with limited staging using local talent. With a spotlight on these “hidden gems” the De Novo Theatre Company welcomes audiences to open their minds and be educated and entertained.
I am fortunate to be attending Drexel University during the early stages of starting this theatre company. As De Novo's acting Business Manager, my classes at Drexel University’s Arts Administration & Museum Leadership Program have helped me to learn all the ins and outs of running a successful nonprofit theatre company. Each class has offered insight to new topics I must consider when starting a theatre company. For the various class projects, I have used De Novo Theatre Company as my model organization so my project research and outcomes can be directly applied to De Novo Theatre Company.
I am so happy and grateful to be here at Drexel University. For my remaining three quarters, I look forward to learning more theoretical knowledge and practical skills to apply to any real life job situations I may encounter going forward.
Jackie DiFerdinando
ArtsLine editor 2019-2020
jad548@drexel.edu
Keep in touch!
Subscribe to ArtsLine and periodic AAML communication here.
Letter from the Program Directors
This time of year is always very exciting for the Arts Administration & Museum Leadership program. Our current students are now well into their graduate studies while advancing their careers in a wide range of cultural organizations and museums. We recently sent a group of students to Washington, DC for Museums Advocacy Day, where they visited the Capitol and met with our elected officials to make the case for supporting our nation's museums. Later this month, another group of our students will do the same when they participate in the National Arts Action Summit.
Meanwhile, we are actively interviewing prospective students to be part of our next talented cohort of graduate students. Applications for this fall are still open and we’re always happy to speak with anyone interested in accelerating their career path through our graduate program.
This spring, we’re hosting a variety of events to highlight our leadership role in the sector. On March 26-27, we are the host sponsor of the Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit, where 300 leaders in the arts, urban planning, and government will convene to share new approaches to the role of arts in community development.
On May 4th, we invite you to attend a special event on cultural equity and inclusion, featuring a keynote lecture by Roberto Bedoya, a renowned champion of equitable practices in community planning and placemaking. This will be followed by a dialog with key leaders in arts and urban planning. More details and registration information will be coming soon.
Plans are underway for another social event for all of our alumni and students. Our vast and growing alumni network is one of our greatest assets, and we want to continue to build strong connections with all of you. Be sure to keep in touch and share the exciting updates on your lives. We'll be sharing things on our public Facebook page and on our private Facebook page just for students and alums. We're also on Instagram @DrexelAAML.
Meanwhile, we are actively interviewing prospective students to be part of our next talented cohort of graduate students. Applications for this fall are still open and we’re always happy to speak with anyone interested in accelerating their career path through our graduate program.
This spring, we’re hosting a variety of events to highlight our leadership role in the sector. On March 26-27, we are the host sponsor of the Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit, where 300 leaders in the arts, urban planning, and government will convene to share new approaches to the role of arts in community development.
On May 4th, we invite you to attend a special event on cultural equity and inclusion, featuring a keynote lecture by Roberto Bedoya, a renowned champion of equitable practices in community planning and placemaking. This will be followed by a dialog with key leaders in arts and urban planning. More details and registration information will be coming soon.
Plans are underway for another social event for all of our alumni and students. Our vast and growing alumni network is one of our greatest assets, and we want to continue to build strong connections with all of you. Be sure to keep in touch and share the exciting updates on your lives. We'll be sharing things on our public Facebook page and on our private Facebook page just for students and alums. We're also on Instagram @DrexelAAML.
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Neville Vakharia
Program Director, Arts Administration & Museum Leadership |
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Dr. Laura-Edythe Coleman
Program Director, Arts Administration & Museum Leadership, Online |
Faculty Highlights
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Neville Vakharia is part of a team of Drexel faculty that were awarded a $100,000 grant to conduct community-based research on the future of historic house museums. As part of this research, he is developing and co-teaching a new course called "Cultural Planning & Digital Storysharing" in collaboration with Drexel's Digital Media program. His research and mapping visualizations on arts and cultural programming in the City of Philadelphia were recently used to help make a successful case to increase the city's funding for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. He is currently working with Drexel's Corporate & Executive Education department to develop new seminars and workshops for nonprofit and public sector organizations.
Laura-Edythe Coleman presented her research in the 3rd Annual Westphal College Research & Creative Works Showcase on February 28th. In her research at five national museums, she studied "Curatorial Voice: The Gatekeeping of Culture." Dr. Coleman is now co-authoring a book with the curators who participated in the research. Andrew Zitcer will be presenting as part of a plenary on the funding and sustainability of creative placemaking in late March for the Northeast Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit, hosted at the URBN Center. This presentation will be based on a report he is co-authoring with the Drexel’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation based on creative placemaking funding trends. The report uses data from the NEA, ArtPlace, and the Kresge Foundation and is funded by ArtPlace. Julie Goodman has been appointed the chair of our department, effective April 1. As chair of the Department of Arts & Entertainment Enterprise, Julie will provide leadership to our graduate program and two undergraduate programs. Julie has a long history of leadership roles here at Drexel and in the cultural sector. Julie will be a great asset to our department and to the Arts Administration & Museum Leadership program as we continue to grow and increase our impact. Julie will continue to teach classes in our program and is always available to share her knowledge, insights, and networks. Lily Millroy is giving a lecture on March 11 titled "Assembling Fairmount Park, 1844-1926" in the "Building Philadelphia" series sponsored by the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. http://www.preservationalliance.com/building-philadelphia-2020/ Derek Gillman published the article ‘The Old Summer Palace and the Rhetoric of National Treasures’, Santander Art and Culture Law Review (Jagiellonian University Press, Cracow), special issue on ‘National Treasures: Limits to Private Property and Cross-Border Movements’, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 233-44. Pamela Yau joined the faculty of the Arts Administration and Museum Leadership graduate program as Assistant Teaching Professor in January 2020. She has previously taught as an adjunct in the program since 2017 as well as teaching in the graduate Arts Administration program at Teachers College, Columbia University. With her specialized background in marketing and communications in the arts and her professional experiences working in arts management in the non-profit, for-profit, and public sectors, she will be teaching courses in arts and cultural marketing and engagement, arts entrepreneurship, arts management, and thesis development. At Drexel, she is looking forward to embarking on research on the marketing and communication of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the creative and performing arts. Polly McKenna-Cress has been dedicated to furthering the museum field in many different capacities through her 30+ years of leadership with a focus on design and interpretation within both formal and informal education. She is dedicated to civic and socially responsible creative processes and community engagements that have been applied locally and in all parts of the world. Polly has managed and collaborated on more than 60 exhibitions, taught as an Associate Professor at the university level, provided leadership in different departmental capacities, and is an author, lecturer and workshop facilitator. She has held and holds multiple board seats and is recognized locally, nationally and internationally for her work. |
Alumni & Student News
Michelle Baxter-Schaffer (AADM ‘14) is the new Communications & Engagement Specialist at the New Jersey State Council on the Arts
Corinne Butler (AADM ‘02) is living in Wisconsin and is working as a Theatre Manager for the Marcus Performing Arts Center.
Kimberly Camp (AADM '86) received the "Award of Excellence" from the American Craft Council
Sarah Christy (AADM ’20) was recently promoted to Chief Operating Officer of International House Philadelphia, where she most recently served as Director of Programs and Managing Director of Lightbox Film Center.
Filiz Leigh (formerly O’Brian) (AADM '11) was promoted to Senior Individual Giving Officer at the Curtis Institute of Music. She and her husband TJ also welcomed their first child, Süheyla Jude, on January 31st!
Laurie McGahey (AADM '02) is interim Director of the Michener Art Museum.
Sarah Mettin (AADM '20) is now the Artistic Associate at the Metropolitan Ballet Company.
Danielle Swan (AADM '14) is Grants Manager at Pima Community College.
Wilna Julmiste Taylor (AADM '14) is Assistant Director at the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise & Public Policy
Corinne Butler (AADM ‘02) is living in Wisconsin and is working as a Theatre Manager for the Marcus Performing Arts Center.
Kimberly Camp (AADM '86) received the "Award of Excellence" from the American Craft Council
Sarah Christy (AADM ’20) was recently promoted to Chief Operating Officer of International House Philadelphia, where she most recently served as Director of Programs and Managing Director of Lightbox Film Center.
Filiz Leigh (formerly O’Brian) (AADM '11) was promoted to Senior Individual Giving Officer at the Curtis Institute of Music. She and her husband TJ also welcomed their first child, Süheyla Jude, on January 31st!
Laurie McGahey (AADM '02) is interim Director of the Michener Art Museum.
Sarah Mettin (AADM '20) is now the Artistic Associate at the Metropolitan Ballet Company.
Danielle Swan (AADM '14) is Grants Manager at Pima Community College.
Wilna Julmiste Taylor (AADM '14) is Assistant Director at the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise & Public Policy
Want to contribute to the Spring/Summer edition of ArtsLine or have news you'd like to share? Email the editor, Jackie, at jad548@drexel.edu!
Make sure to follow us on social media below to stay up to date with Drexel Arts Administration & Museum Leadership.
Make sure to follow us on social media below to stay up to date with Drexel Arts Administration & Museum Leadership.
