ArtsLine: Winter 2019

Featured Articles

Album of the Quarter
​Museums Advocacy Day
​#GirlBoss
What is "Creative Arts Therapy?"

Letter from the Editor

A lot has happened this quarter. The Arts Administration & Museums Leadership program sent two groups of students to Washington, D.C. for Museums Advocacy Day and the National Arts Action Summit, to advocate to our representatives for NEA funding, tax reform, and more. It snowed, a few times. I learned how to make risotto. I visited different coffee shops, new art galleries, and new museums in order to thoroughly explore and give thought to the busy city I’ve come to reside in. And as I traveled to New York City for my second consecutive year at the Chamber Music America conference, I realized two themes I'd like to highlight this quarter: Vulnerability and Inspiration. 

It was at that conference in the beginning of 2018 where I formally submitted my application to Drexel after a particularly inspirational career coaching session from a woman (thank you Eunbi!) I’ve come to admire greatly. 2019 was my first year coming as an independent young professional (albeit one who forgot her business cards at home!), thankful for my manager the previous year who saw the potential in me as an arts manager and recommended the conference in the first place.

Allowing myself to feel vulnerable this quarter was a challenge. Winters can be inherently a time for thought, as we use cozy time spent indoors under heated blankets to think about our past, present, and future. This winter I felt particularly motivated to do more- in addition to Chamber Music America, I also attended the National Arts Action Summit (formerly Arts Advocacy Day) for the second time. I’ve learned that second times can bring more room for introspection than the first. How have I grown since I was last standing here? What have I overcome in the year in between? Going somewhere for the first time is thrilling, activating personal motivation and growth, but having a comparison point from where you are and where you used to be is incomparable. I feel on track in my journey to full-fledged arts administrator.

We all have the choice to break out of our comfort zones to try new things, go to new places, and meet new people. Find what inspires you and pursue it. Allow yourself to feel scared, eager, a little bit wacky for wearing a skirt to the art gallery when it’s snowing outside. It’s all part of the process of growth, and the arts will be there for you along the way if you choose to include them. Especially if you’ve spoken to your Congressperson about them!

In short, never give up an opportunity to do something you’re passionate about. Your future self will be glad you took the chance to experience more.
 
My winter favorites:
Vegan meatball hoagie from Green Line Café Powelton Village. How did I go an entire quarter without knowing this café was right around the corner on 37th? They also have Dottie’s Donuts, because we know I can’t say no to a vegan donut.

First Friday- I braved the cold twice, in February and March, to experience the night of free galleries. I took part in the "Taste of Shabbos" traditional meal at the Old City Jewish Art Center, saw a friend’s art displayed at Colorspace Labs to kick off National Women’s Month, and enjoyed some craft beer and seitan tacos at Evil Genius Brewing right around the corner.

Joe Coffee- The theme of this issue is vulnerability, but the theme of my life is Vegan Baked Goods. I found out that Joe Coffee sells cookies from Crust Vegan Bakery and I was sold.

A Career Guide for Misfits- My mom gifted me the book “Weird in a World That’s Not: A Career Guide for Misfits” by Jennifer Romolini, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I picked it up a few weeks later and read halfway through in one sitting. It’s the reason I chose to emphasize vulnerability here- sometimes life doesn’t go as planned, and it’s okay. It’s okay to make mistakes, to be weird, to be anxious about the future, especially as a young adult in the big bad job market. Jennifer is frank, honest, and helpful; she writes smoothly and personably as if you were talking directly to her. I highly recommend picking this one up if, like me, your fears of the future and your ambition are stuck in gridlock and you need something that will whack you into action. 


Darby Swab
ArtsLine editor 2018-2019
ds3572@drexel.edu

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Keep in touch!

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Snapshots from the Winter:

(Scroll over photos to view caption)

Letter from the Program Directors

As the winter season comes to an end, we’re looking forward to warmer weather, a new quarter with our students, and lots of new arts and cultural experiences. Over the past quarter, we’ve seen our students grow their skills, knowledge, and networks through their coursework and professional activities. We’re fortunate to have such talented arts, cultural, and museum leaders shaping the future of our field.
 
We’re in the process of selecting our next cohort of students who will start the program this fall. Our applications are currently open, so if you know a rising arts and cultural leader looking to advance their career and be part of the Drexel network, we’d be happy to speak with them. Application information can be found here.
 
Also, save the date for May 10th! We’re planning a social event for all our alumni, current students, and faculty to get together, have fun, and build our networks. Stay tuned for more details.
 
Keep in touch and enjoy your spring season!

Neville Vakharia
Program Director, Arts Administration & Museum Leadership

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Jean Brody
Program Director, Arts Administration & Museum Leadership, Online

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Faculty Highlights

Neville Vakharia was selected to present his research at the prestigious International Conference on Arts & Cultural Management in Venice, Italy this June. At this conference, he’ll give a presentation on systems theory and museum performance. He recently served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and their Arts Research Labs grant program, reviewing major initiatives to link the arts and social well-being. Last month, he was a panelist for the Association of Art Museum Curators event on digital and outward engagement, where he and senior museum executives shared insights on the opportunities and challenges of using technology to enhance visitor experiences.


 Jean Brody will be leading a panel presentation, "Online Arts Administration Course Design For Active Engagement” at the conference of the Association of Arts Administration Educators in Madison, Wisconsin May 30-June 2.  She continues to be an active member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.
 





Andrew Zitcer was invited to participate in a national gathering on Creative Placemaking Pedagogy, hosted by Arizona State University and ArtPlace America. He participated in a 2 day brainstorming session about training the next generation of arts leaders in the complexities of creative placemaking. He was asked to present on his teaching at Drexel to the attendees, and his talk generated lots of interest in future collaborations.
 



Julie Goodman recently wrapped up evaluation projects for the Philadelphia Museum of Dance (check out the catalogue at https://phlpmd.com/) and Fleisher Art Memorial's BYOP (Bring Your Own Project) initiative during her sabbatical. She is looking forward to returning to the classroom in the spring, when she will teach a section of Research Design on campus and Political Activism in the Arts online. 
 
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Danielle Rice would like to invite you to join the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums for a discussion with Randi Korn on Wednesday, April 17, from 5pm-7pm. Please RSVP here.Randi Korn will discuss her book, Intentional Practice for Museums: A Guide for Maximizing Impact, with Danielle   at this event. Please RSVP to this event as seating will be limited. The conversation will begin promptly at 5:30pm so plan to arrive at 5:15pm. 

 

Derek Gillman has been working closely with President Fry and Vice-Provost Rosalind Remer on plans for Drexel to partner with the City of Philadelphia and the Trustees of the Atwater Kent Museum (Philadelphia History Museum) on a sustainable plan to care for and steward the museum’s collection of more than 130,000 artifacts. He has been invited to speak at a conference at the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China, in early June, and to publish his paper ‘Heritage, Value and Vulnerability’ in the first issue of the university’s new journal Heritage. He taught ARTH 103 in the winter quarter, and in spring will teach the AAML graduate class Exhibitions and Programs.

Alumni & Student News

Nikki Battestilli (’14) is now the Marketing Director for Pittsburgh’s City Theatre

Theresa Colvin (‘96), executive director of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (MAAF), will receive the Coleen West Leadership in the Arts Award from the Howard County Arts Council during their 22nd Annual Celebration of the Arts on March 23, 2019.
https://patch.com/maryland/ellicottcity/howard-county-arts-council-honors-howie-award-winners-3
 
Alice Ann Dolbin (’14) is now Accountant and Financial Analyst at the University of Pennsylvania

Jonecia Lewis (’18) is now Development and Operations Associate at the Sustainable Business Network

Maggie McDermott (’18) was promoted to Global Human Resources Project Specialist at Axalta

Naima Murphy (’14) was promoted to Director of Partnerships at Campus Philly

Caitlin O’Brien (’18) was promoted to Advancement Officer, Individual Giving Manager at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Hannah Rechtschaffen (’16) is now Director of Creative Placemaking at The Mill District
 
Laura Sancken (’14) was promoted to Board Engagement Officer at the Boston Symphony Orchestra
 
Meg Wolensky (’14) is now Continuing Education Program Manager at Moore College of Art & Design

Want to contribute to the Spring Quarter of ArtsLine or have news you'd like to share? Email the editor, Darby, at ds3572@drexel.edu!
Make sure to follow us on social media below to stay up to date with Drexel Arts Administration & Museum Leadership.

ArtsLine: Fall 2018

Album of the Quarter
The Philadelphia Museum of Dance: Julie Goodman
What's Next? Working with Emerging Arts Leaders: Philadelphia: Sarah Christy
Updates from your Graduate Assistants

Letter from the Editor
My name is Darby Swab, and I will be the editor of ArtsLine 2018-2019!  It's hard to believe the Quarter has already flown by so fast, and we're already heading into the cold weather season.
(Please send me all of the blankets, hot cocoa, and puppies to snuggle with, stat!)

A bit about me: I moved to Philly from Buffalo, NY on a 100-degree day in July. My first out of state move and the furthest from home I’ve ever lived, the concept was terrifying. Despite the jitter and the doubts and moving away from the city I’d come to know as home, I still felt like Philly was the right place for me. After getting my undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from the University at Buffalo, I jumped right into a graduate program there that unfortunately didn’t suit me. After 2 years and a drop to part-time status, I was feeling pretty down and excited for a change of scenery. In only a few months I’ve already found a sense of belonging and purpose here not only in “The City of Brotherly Love,” but at Drexel, in this program, and among my wonderful coworkers at Starbucks 16th& Walnut.
 
Some of my favorite things about Philadelphia so far:

• The History- I love walking around and finding historical alleyways, buildings, and more! The brickwork and architecture are wonderful. 
• Murals Everywhere- While exploring the twists and turns of these city streets, it brings me joy to find murals, collages, and art with each new block.
• Vegan Food Galore- So far, The Tasty is my favorite local brunch spot. Located on the corner of 12thand Reed, this tiny vegan diner provides some of the biggest and most delicious burritos around. Plus, it’s on the same block as a dog park. Win-win? Yes. Dottie’s Donuts, while further away on south 6th street, is my go-to when I have a donut craving. Their rich, yeasty, decadently topped donuts are worth the subway fare. Mmmm.
• Gritty - I don’t even have to explain this one, do I? Gritty is so pure, so full of positive energy. Gritty supports my goals and dreams at Drexel. I like sports now. 

 
While I’m still homesick for pink Buffalo sunsets, the south facing view from my Newbold rowhome provides a similar sense of comfort. My daily commute on the subway has become a quiet time for music and self-reflection. I’ve quickly acclimated to life in Philly, and it’s a great feeling.

For my take on ArtsLine, I want to talk about some more of my favorite Philadelphia people, places, and things while providing some of the pictures I take in my daily life. I no longer pursue photography as more than a hobby, but I hope you’ll enjoy the snapshots from one graduate student’s iPhone SE. I am excited to share with you where the winter quarter brings me!
 
Please send any recommendations, places I should go, things I can see, etc! I look forward to hearing from you and am excited to begin this chapter as the editor of ArtsLine.

Darby Swab
ArtsLine editor 2018-2019
ds3572@drexel.edu

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Letter from the Program Directors
Our fall quarter always brings a sense of excitement and renewal as we begin a new academic year. This fall, we welcomed one of our largest cohorts of Arts Administration & Museum Leadership students to campus and online. These students, from around the country and around the world, bring a wealth of energy, intellect, and curiosity to their roles as students and arts and cultural leaders. We can’t wait to see all the great things they’ll do.
 
We also have some exciting changes in our faculty roles as we continue to grow and evolve. Our esteemed colleague Dr. Danielle Rice will be retiring at the end of the academic year but will continue to teach for us on a part-time basis. Danielle was responsible for launching our Museum Leadership program and will continue to advise Museum Leadership students through the end of the year. Dr. Jean Brody, who created and directs our online program (the second oldest online graduate Arts Administration program in the county), will step down as our online program director at the end of this academic year in order to focus on teaching. This year, we are in the process of hiring a new program director and teaching professor to replace Danielle and to oversee our online program. We’ve received many talented applicants from around the country and plan to make a hire by the spring. We’ll be sure to keep you posted on our newest faculty member.
 
We’ve also begun interviewing prospective students for next year’s cohort, and we’re happy to speak with anyone who is interested in learning how our program can advance their career goals and build their professional networks. Applications for our campus and online program are now open, with an early admissions deadline of January 15th, which is the deadline to be considered for a graduate assistantship. This year we are also introducing a Spring cohort for online students studying either Arts Administration or Museum Leadership.  Applications for Online AAML Spring 2019 are currently under way.
 
We wish you all a wonderful fall season, full of both personal and professional accomplishments.

Faculty Highlights
Neville Vakharia was appointed co-editor of Artivate: A Journal Entrepreneurship in the Arts. Artivate is the leading, peer-reviewed journal that serves to disseminate new thinking, perspectives, and insights into arts entrepreneurship theory, practice, and pedagogy. He recently presented his new research on museums and systems theory at the international conference of the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA). He also presented his research on the nonprofit ecosystem and the role of GIS/data visualization at the Regional Nonprofit Scholars Conference. At Drexel’s inaugural Alumni Summit, he created and facilitated a workshop titled “Strategic Thinking for Maximum Impact.” Neville has just completed a two-year research study on strategic change in the performing arts, funded by a Drexel faculty research grant and culminating in an upcoming report on its findings.
 
 Jean Brody completed a year of research and writing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Arts, and her chapter on this topic will be published this spring as part of The Routledge Companion to Arts Management.  In her role as board member of new music group Relâche, she helped to develop a weekend-long celebration last spring of the group’s 40thanniversary, as well as a plan for the group’s evolution to its next generation of leadership.

AADM faculty member Andrew Zitcer was invited to present his research at the National Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit at the University of Maryland in October. He discussed the work of teaching Creative Placemaking with a panel of faculty from around the country. A few weeks later, he was back in the DC area presenting on his research into public art and political controversy (co-authored with AADM alumna Salina M. Almanzar) at the Washington Community Scholars’ Center of Eastern Methodist University. In December, he will co-lead a delegation from Drexel to Arizona State University, where he is putting together a series of joint faculty symposia on The Future of the American City: From Founding City (Philadelphia) to Frontier City (Phoenix).

Julie Goodman finalized work on the Philadelphia Museum of Dance project, read her article here 
http://charmatz.westphal.drexel.edu/pmd/

Danielle Rice recently traveled to Detroit for the culminating conference of a multi-year study for which she served as an advisor on the efficacy of one-shot field trips to art museums.  She also participated in the Annual Meeting of the Mid Atlantic Association of Museums where she serves on the Board.  She also participated on the museum advisory committee of the American Philosophical Society.  But when she's not teaching, advising students or traveling, the largest portion of her time is spent in her role as Board Chair of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site and Museum (ESPH).  As such she has been meeting with all trustees individually to discuss fundraising and future plans as ESPH embarks on an ambitious capital campaign to build a new visitor center.  
 
This November Derek Gillman attended two back-to-back art law conferences at the University of Geneva, reading an expanded version of ‘The Old Summer Palace and the Making of National Treasures’, a paper he first gave to the December 2017 Westphal symposium Defining/redefining national identity, through the visual arts and museums. These conference papers will be published in a forthcoming volume of the Santander Art and Culture Law Review. While in Switzerland he also visited the Zentrum Paul Klee and the Fondation Beyeler. On his return to Philadelphia, he discussed the paper with students in the AAML ‘Legal and Ethical Issues’ class. He continues to work with President Fry on strengthening and expanding the role of collections at Drexel.

Alumni News
Sarah Braverman (’17) is the Development & Marketing Associate at Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art 
Brooke Brehm('17) has accepted a position at University of Rochester in Rochester, NY in the Office of College Advising Services
Jade Cintron ('18) began her role as Director of Education at Goggleworks Center for the Arts in Reading, PA
Adrienne Harding ('15) presented her thesis paper "Incorporating Dance in College Music Pedagogy" at the College Music Society (CMS) National Conference in Vancouver, BC on October 10-14. She has also been invited to present at the CMS International Conference in Belgium in July 2019. In August, she began her new role as Music Admissions Coordinator for the University of Delaware Department of Music.
Tracy Hendrickson (Miller) ('16) has been promoted to be the full time Global K-12 Summer Programs Manager at Juilliard in NYC to help create and run youth summer arts programs around the world
Jonathan Kitt (’12) is the Individual Giving Officer, Leadership Giving at WNET New York Public Media
Hadia Mawlawi (’13) is now the Community Initiatives Manager at Houston Grand Opera
Hannah Rechtshaffen (’16) has been accepted as Program Coordinator at Arts Extension Service, UMass Amherst
Karen Tarkulich (’17) is now the Community Engagement Manager at GSK

Want to contribute to the Winter Quarter of ArtsLine or have news you'd like to share? Email the editor, Darby, at ds3572@drexel.edu and as always, feel free to stop on by the department or drop us a line!

We wish you the joys of warmth, expression, family, and art as we head into the 2018 holiday season.

ArtsLine: Spring 2018

Alumni & Faculty Collaboration: Presenting "Creative Right to the City" at the 2018 Urban Affairs Conference
Arts & Autism: Cultivating Artistic Opportunities for ALL
Student Highlight: Le Zhang, Student Liaison to the EAL:P
Spring Quarter City Highlight: From Philly to.... Ecuador!

Letter from the Editor

Jade Cintron AADM '18

This Spring has been a professionally eventful one for me: I went down to Washington DC for Arts Advocacy Day with other first years, attended a professional development program at Lincoln Center focused on autism and the arts, a conference on teaching social activism at the Museum of the City of New York, starting my search for a full time job and with all this excitement, beginning my thesis!

What I've learned most from these experiences in combination with my graduate work, is that the arts and cultural field is constantly changing, adapting, and trying to make sense of it's place in modern day society. I cannot tell you how many conferences addressing social justice issues or talks addressing mental health advocacy in the arts have been popping up,  To me, this is everything. It is the reason the arts are here, to help us make sense of the world through expression and self-reflection. 

Right now we need more advocates: For the arts, for social justice, for humankind. As I mentioned in my previous note to you, I want us all to take a look at who we are, what we do, and find ways to contribute through that channel. How can we make this world a better place through the arts? How can we continue this undeniable movement forward and reject going back to close-mindedness and one track thinking. #Metoo is here, #NeverAgain is here. We refuse to go back.

As Michael Jackson sang many many years ago, "Heal the world, make it a better place. For you and for me and the entire human race..."

Thank you for having me as your editor. It's been an honor!

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Jade Cintron
ArtsLine Editor 2017-2018
erijade@drexel.edu

Letter from the Program Directors

Jean Brody, Online Program Director

Spring always brings a sense of renewal and growth. We have seen our students grow intellectually and professionally, and we take great pride as we watch another class graduate in June. They may be leaving our program, but they will forever be part of our Arts Administration family.

It’s also an exciting time for renewal and growth of our program. We’ve always worked closely with our related graduate program in Museum Leadership, with several shared courses and our faculty teaching in both programs. To strengthen our impact and ensure that we continue to provide all our students with the most comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and future-focused education, we’re joining forces. Starting this fall, we’ll be the Arts Administration and Museum Leadership program. Students will still pursue their studies in either Arts Administration or Museum Leadership, but will have access to a broader range of courses, faculty, research opportunities, professional development, and more. This is yet another step in our continued growth as the premiere graduate program for leaders who want to advance their careers in the arts, cultural, and creative industries.

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Neville K. Vakharia, Campus Program Director

Looking ahead, we’ve been extremely pleased with the large number of talented applicants to our programs and are excited to welcome a new class of students this fall. Due to this increased interest, we’re still accepting applications for both campus and online programs for this fall, so if you know someone who is ready to accelerate their career path and become a part of the Drexel Arts Administration and Museum Leadership family, send them our way or direct them to bit.ly/LeadTheArts.

Finally, our alumni fundraising campaign is now underway. Our alumni fund was established to provide our students and recent graduates with financial resources to support a range of professional development opportunities. We are now seeking contributions to this fund and to make our first awards to students beginning in the 2018-19 academic year. Please join us in supporting this effort. Your gift will be part of “The Future is a Place We Make. The Campaign for Drexel” and will directly benefit those who are making the world a better place through their work in the arts and cultural sector.

Have a wonderful spring and summer season!

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Faculty Highlights

Neville Vakharia's research paper titled Knowledge centricity and organizational performance: an empirical study of the performing arts was published in the Journal of Knowledge Management. Co-authored with alumna Divya Janardhan (Arts Administration ’10) and colleagues from the Universite Bourgogne School of Business and the University of Ljubljana, the article is a quantitative assessment of how organizational practices that build institutional knowledge can affect certain types of organizational performance. He also launched ImpactView, a new tool based on his research that will help nonprofits collaborate, understand community metrics, and make the case for funding. This project was featured in the social impact news site Generocity.org and in news site Billy Penn. In addition to this, he received a Summer Research Award from Drexel's Office of Research to study strategic change in performing arts organizations.

Jean Brody will be presenting “Strategies to Address Cultural Equity” at the conference of the Association of Arts Education Administrators in Houston the first weekend in June.  This work is based on research she has conducted within the Philadelphia arts and cultural community regarding efforts to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in our sector.
 

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Julie Goodman recently traveled to Syracuse, NY to help evaluate LeMoyne College's graduate arts administration program. (Note: LeMoyne is the undergraduate alma mater of Drexel AADM alums Arin Sullivan and Kendra Lawton Ajuba) By the beginning of June, she will have presented with former Philadelphia Cultural Fund director June O'Neill at the Association of Arts Administration Educators Conference in Houston, TX. 

Andrew Zitcer presented his research at conferences in Toronto and New Orleans! In Canada, Andrew was joined by AADM Online alumna Salina M. Almanzar. They co-presented on research they are conducting together about public art and political controversies. Then, in New Orleans, Andrew talked about the importance of co-ops to a packed house at the American Association of Geographers. 

Student & Alumni News

Marisa Benson ('16) was recently featured in the Trenton Downtowner about her work to make the Trenton War Memorial a sustainable arts venue, which was also the subject of the master's thesis. The article also notes that she is now a grants manager at the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

Sara Caliva​ ('12) is the new Marketing and Communications Manager for the Everson Museum.

Addy Gonzalez-Renteria ('11) is the Project and Development Director for NOW Art.

Roberta Johnson (Current Student) was hired by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance to be VP of Audience Engagement.

Kevin Kernan's ('16) graphic design studio, GDLOFT, recently won a major national award from Print Magazine's Regional Design Awards for our AIGA 35th Anniversary Poster Series. They won "Best of the East" along with winning the grand prize, beating out over 4000 entries from the top design studios and agencies from around the country and received their award at HOW Design Live in Boston.

Felicia Knise ('17) presented her thesis work at the Graduate college’s emerging scholars conference.

Thank you for a fantastic academic year! Have a wonderful summer full of arts, culture, expression and happiness.  

ArtsLine: Winter 2018

A Drexel Alumni Perspective
Our Annual Fundraiser Revamped: Arts & Culture Soirée!
Artists' Mind: A Poem/Spoken Word Piece
Winter Quarter Cities Highlight: From Philly to... Beijing, Guanghzou & Tainan!

Letter from the Editor

Jade Cintron, ArtsLine Editor 2017-2018

As we eagerly await longer days, outdoor film screenings and lighter clothes, there is no doubt the past few months have been trying for us as a nation. Without getting too political, and boy is that a temptation I’d gladly fall into, I continue to find solace in remembering why I’m here:  Why I’m in the states. Why I’m in Pennsylvania AND Philly. Why I’m getting my Master’s and ultimately and most importantly: Why I’m in the arts.

In these perilous times, it’s the arts that keep me going. It’s the work I do, the practices I study and the talented, hardworking people I meet and interact with each day both here at Drexel and at Rutgers. As some of us here like to joke, we’re not in the non profit arts industry for the money. We’re in it because it’s a cause we believe in, a system in which we find hope and comfort. It’s how we perceive the world around us and want our future generations to as well. No matter what your level of involvement with the arts, I invite you to step into the lion’s den that I think accurately define these times and utilize the arts as a vehicle for social justice, policy change, and expression.

Use the arts to promote peace and unity.
Use the arts to unite those of different backgrounds.
Use the arts to stand up for what is right.
Use the arts to reflect on where we’ve come from, who we are, and where we are going.
Use the arts as an escape.
Use the arts as a visit to a not so distant past or even the past you never experienced yourself.

This is how I’m choosing to fight. Join me, won’t you?

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Jade Cintron
ArtsLine Editor 2017-2018
erijade@drexel.edu

Letter from the Program Directors

Jean Brody, Online Program Director

Greetings! The winter is always an exciting and productive time here at Drexel Arts Administration. Our students are hard at work learning important leadership skills and knowledge while our faculty are teaching, conducting critical research, and serving as a strategic resource to our nation’s arts, cultural, and creative sector. Our growing legion of Arts Administration alumni continues to rise up the ranks in their career trajectories, creating a robust and flourishing sector and making us proud.

Next month, our students will descend on our nation’s capital to participate in National Arts Advocacy Day. They’ll join hundreds of arts advocates from around the country to demonstrate the importance of the arts to our elected officials. Their efforts will be especially important this year as many arts-related federal agencies are facing steep cuts.

Looking ahead, we’ve been extremely pleased with the large number of applicants to our programs and are excited to welcome a new class of students this fall. We’re still accepting applications, so if you know someone who is ready to accelerate their career path and become a part of the Drexel Arts Administration family, send them our way or direct them to bit.ly/LeadTheArts.

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Neville K. Vakharia, Campus Program Director

For those of you who are local or can travel to Philadelphia, we have a couple of exciting events coming up. On March 9th  we’re hosting a happy hour for alumni (Happy Hour RSVP Here!) and prospective students, and on April 13th we have our “Arts & Culture Soiree” hosted by Drexel's Arts Administration & Museum Leadership Programs. Save The Date! 

Finally, we are pleased to announce the launch of the “Arts Administration Alumni Fund,” established to provide our Arts Administration students and recent graduates with financial resources to support a range of professional development opportunities. We are now seeking contributions to this fund and to make our first awards to students. Please join us in supporting this effort. Your gift will be part of “The Future is a Place We Make. The Campaign for Drexel” and will directly benefit those who are making the world a better place through their work in the arts and cultural sector.

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Faculty Highlights

Neville Vakharia was invited to speak at Stanford University’s Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society. He gave three presentations on his research into open federal government data and demonstrating a new online tool he developed to foster increased collaboration in the social sector.

Jean Brody will be giving a presentation titled "Strategies to Address Cultural Equity" at the Association for Arts Administration Educators conference in June in Houston.
 





Julie Goodman received a grant award from the Westphal College to support her work with Fleisher Art Memorial on their BYOP (Bring Your Own Project) initiative, a partnership with Casa de Los Soles and VietLEAD to re-imagine Fleisher's exhibitions process through community-based artist residencies. 

Andrew Zitcer was named one of City and State PA’s 40 under 40 Rising Stars!

Student & Alumni News

Sarah Braverman ('18) is now Managing Director of Short Stories Bookshop & Community Hub and also launched her artist and creatives focused podcast, Brave Space

Mary E. Carlisle ('05), assistant professor of Ceramics at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, will exhibit "Reminiscent Objects," a collection of found and handmade cotton mill artifacts, at West Main Artists Co-op from February 15 to March 10.


Jade Cintron (Current Student & Editor) was accepted to Lincoln Center’s Professional Development Program ‘The Big Umbrella Festival" for Arts Administrators interested in producing and presenting work for audiences with autism.


Brittany Hall ('13) wrote a piece about her experience living in Broome County, New York for the "Broome County...a good life™ program" featured on BroomeIsGood.com. Ms. Hall is the executive director of the Binghamton Philharmonic. 


Cristyn Johnson ('15) is now Local Arts Advancement Programs Manager at Americans for the Arts


Whitney Lopez (current student) was interviewed on Artblog’s Podcast. 


Tracy Miller ('16) is now Summer Programs Coordinator at The Juilliard School , Juilliard Global Ventures.

Moriah Shtull ('14) is now Marketing Manager at the American Museum of Natural History.

Want to contribute to the Spring Quarter of ArtsLine or have news you'd like to share? Email the editor, Jade at erijade@drexel.edu and as always, feel free to stop on by the department or drop us a line!

We wish you warmth for what remains of winter and a full schedule of arts, culture, expression and happiness.  

ArtsLine: Fall 2017

Cultural Questions Drive Faculty-Student Collaboration
Advocating For the Arts in America 
Interview with our Rankin Scholar Emiko Ono
VIDEO: Arts Leadership -- A Changing Landscape. "Moving Arts Forward" talk by Emiko Ono
Fall Quarter City Highlight: From Philly to....Barcelona!

Letter from the Editor

Jade Cintron, ArtsLine Editor 2017-2018

Welcome to ArtsLine’s Fall Quarter Newsletter.
My name is Jade Cintron and I am thrilled to be the Editor for ArtsLine 2017-2018.  As every editor before me, I want to not only provide interesting and relevant content from our field, but also to connect our readers with what is going on with our faculty, our students and with our alumni as well.
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In addition, my personal goal for ArtsLine this year is to look outwards to better understand who we are. Although I am a born and bred North Jersey girl, I am of Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage and I just spent the last 8 years post-undergrad living and working abroad in Barcelona, Catalunya (Spain) where my appreciation for the magnitude of differences and diversity within arts & culture worldwide really grew. I traveled from different European city to European city and even to Istanbul, Turkey and Fez, Morocco and experienced so much history, art, and, most impactful for me, perspective after perspective, story after story.

Storytelling unites the world. It is why we are in this business,; it is why we fight to protect it, to encourage others to join us in partaking, why we participate even as artists and art makers and even why we have these newsletters. We want to unite and connect people through passion, and there is no better way than through arts and culture. My hope is that I can help give you a taste of the beautiful, diverse world we have out there from our own backyards to across the globe. In the USA we are so lucky to have a multitude of cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives, and they all stem from other places outside. Let’s look outwards to better understand how we have come to be who we are, why we do the things we do or, at the very least, be exposed to ideas and facts we have never considered.

For the next 3 quarters, I will do my part by offering you a glimpse of another city somewhere in the world and interesting facts in their arts and cultural scene as well as other facts in reference to ours here in Philadelphia. I am beginning with, you guessed it, Barcelona, where I have gathered facts from personal contacts in the field there. I hope that these city comparisons, meant to only be a teaser, titled “From Philly to…” will inspire you to take a deeper look into the artistic practices outside what you know and let it drive your art here.

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Happy trails to you,
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Jade Cintron
ArtsLine Editor 2017-2018
erijade@drexel.edu

Letter from the Program Directors

Jean Brody, Online Program Director

Greetings! As we complete the first quarter of a new academic year (our 44th!), we are thrilled to have another amazing group of graduate students joining our vast network of successful leaders in the arts, cultural, and creative sector. Our sector is dynamic and changing, filled with new opportunities and new challenges. In response, our Arts Administration program’s new curriculum ensures that we address the most critical contemporary issues facing the field. We are also developing new approaches and solutions through our faculty’s groundbreaking research, which is being presented and published globally and recognized for its importance. We see a great future for our field knowing that our students and alumni are leading the way.

Several important initiatives under way this year include a newly reconstituted Alumni Council, with leadership provided by Carly Rapaport-Stein (AADM '15).  Please contact her at carlyrapaportstein@gmail.com to let her know if you'd like to get involved.  If you are know of any alums who may be out of touch with the program, please encourage them to reach out to us so they can reconnect.

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Neville K. Vakharia, Campus Program Director

In addition, we are building a new AADM Alumni Fund that will support Arts Administration students and recent alumni.  One important purpose for this fund will be to help current students and recent graduates attend academic and professional conferences where they can present their research and stay in touch with continuing trends in our field.  Please watch your email and social media for an opportunity to support this fund so your gift can directly support AADM students and recent alums.  Your gift will be part of “The Future is a Place We Make. The Campaign for Drexel” and will directly benefit those who are making the world a better place through their work in the arts and cultural sector. To learn more about the campaign visit future.drexel.edu and keep a look out for more information on how to make sure your gift goes directly to the AADM Alumni Fund.

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Faculty Highlights

Neville Vakharia had a chapter published in the new book, Systems Thinking in Museums: Theory and Practice (Rowman & Littlefield). He presented his research on the development of a new data visualization tool at the Inclusive Museums Research Network in Manchester, England. He was also selected to teach a one-week, intensive course on social innovation for the Mandela Fellows, a leadership training program of the U.S. Department of State for social sector leaders from sub-Saharan Africa, and he was an invited panelist for a Digital Impact roundtable hosted by Stanford University’s Center for Philanthropy & Civil Society.

Jean Brody recently organized Emiko Ono’s campus visit as a Rankin Scholar, and is participating in the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative.
 





Julie Goodman presented research on the link between program evaluation and arts advocacy at the Social Theory, Politics, and the Arts conference in Minneapolis in October.

Andrew Zitcer published an article called “Planning as Persuaded Storytelling” in the journal Planning Theory & Practice, based on field work he did in West Philadelphia’s arts community with Neville and Julie a few years ago.

Student & Alumni News

Madeline Bell (’17) is now Marketing Coordinator for the Mann Center
Sarah Braverman (2nd year & former ArtsLine Editor) is now Manager of Short Stories Bookshop & Community Hub
​Jamie DeAngelis (’14) is now Client Service Associate, Endowments and Foundations, at the Glenmede Trust.
Flo Gardner (’10) is now Executive Director of the Mendelssohn Club Chorus
Filiz Leigh (O’Brien) (’11) is now Associate Director of Individual Giving at the Curtis Institute of Music
Meghan Randolph ('16) has published two articles based on her thesis research.
Laura Sancken (’14) is now Assistant Director of Board Engagement at the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Brittanie Sterner (’15) is now Director of Programming, One Book, One Philadelphia at the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation​

Want to contribute to the Winter Quarter of ArtsLine or have news you'd like to share? Email the editor, Jade at erijade@drexel.edu and as always, feel free to stop on by the department or drop us a line!

We wish you warmth and a wonderful holiday season full of arts, culture, expression and happiness.  

ArtsLine: Spring 2017

Arab American Heritage Month in Houston
Exploring Arts Administration in Abu Dhabi
Urban Strategy and Founding Energy
Student, Faculty, & Alumni News - Spring

Letter from the Editor

Hello, ArtsLine Readers!

It has been a pleasure to serve as the Editor of ArtsLine for the 2016-17 academic year.  I'm excited for you to meet next year's administrative graduate assistant and editor, and for us to continue the conversations that connect Dragons, arts administrators, and members of the ArtsLine community.

The themes for the quarter's ArtsLine are newness, entrepreneurship, and innovation.  In this issue, you'll from faculty and alumni and learn about their experiences developing a new degree program, curating a heritage festival, and studying arts administration abroad.

Many thanks, again, to all you attended this year's art auction in April and who contributed to the AAGA and the Arts Administration programs.  There are incoming students stepping up to serve on next year's AAGA board, and I'm sure they're looking forward to developing new and innovative ways to serve our students, alumni, and greater community.

As always, I invite you to continue to help shape ArtsLine in the quarters to come, and all of us in the Arts Administration programs welcome your insights and contributions. ​

​Warmly,

Sarah Braverman
Graduate Assistant
sarahbraves@drexel.edu

Letter from the Program Directors

Jean Brody, Online Program Director

Julie Hawkins, Campus Program Director

Hi everyone -- it's finally sunny here in Philadelphia, and we have much news to share.

First, congratulations to AAGA on another successful Art Auction, the program's 14th annual.  Many alumni, friends, and family gathered at the URBN Center in late April for the fundraiser, which supports first-year students' travel to Washington D.C. to participate in National Arts Advocacy Day.  This year, nine students made the trip.  Special thanks are due to Bridget Lynch and AADM alum Danielle Swan, who served as advisors for AAGA this year.

Congratulations, too, to the students who won awards at the Art Auctions, including Best Thesis Awards for Lindsey Gearhart Nevin and Leah Hamilton, and Academic Excellence Awards going to Kari Swenson, Salina Almanzar, and Marja Edwardson.  This year, we were also able to present Karen Murdoch Scholarship Awards to Brooke Brehm, Tara Henninger, and Jenna Wilchinsky. 

One more round of congratulations is due to the graduating students who presented their theses during Commencement Week -- Kari Swenson, Pam Green, Chenyu Wang, Lucretia Davis, Scott Giffen, Kay Dusell, Salina Almanzar, Sara Caliva, Emily Morgan, Andrea Herbert, and Demetrius Shields.  We are proud of all of our graduates, and look forward to seeing you continuing accomplishments in your professional lives.

In faculty news, we have accomplishments to celebrate and some role changes to share:
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Faculty Highlights

Andrew Zitcer was named Program Director of Drexel's new Masters in Urban Strategy program.  He will continue teaching in Arts Administration while serving in this role.

Neville Vakharia will serve as Program Director for Arts Administration's campus program beginning in July, becoming the program's fourth Director after Dr. Edward W. Arian, Cecelia Fitzgibbon, and Julie Goodman Hawkins.
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Julie Goodman Hawkins received tenure and a promotion to Associate Professor.

Neville Vakharia, Julie Goodman Hawkins, and Arts & Entertainment Enterprise Department Chair Larry Epstein recently returned from presenting their work at the Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE) annual conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. (And yes, they all tried the haggis).

Here's hoping your summer is filled with all the rest and relaxation you so richly deserve. Come visit us when you can, and stay tuned for more news from ArtsLine next Fall.

ArtsLine: Winter 2017

Do No Harm; Do Good
The Grants Panelist Experience
When the Arts Meet Activism
Student, Faculty, & Alumni News

Letter from the Editor

Hello, ArtsLine Readers!

I feel as though years have passed between the release of ArtsLine’s fall issue and now instead of mere months. My personal news consumption has become an exhausting but necessary daily task, and admittedly, I’m still working to seek the balance between “work and play” that I discussed in the fall. I now feel an added pressure to engage more in my communities and be more politically active.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, another theme emerged while developing ArtsLine this quarter: activism and advocacy. In this issue, you’ll learn about what it’s like to serve on a grants panel, how the Artistic Rebuttal Project was born, and why a musician is so passionate about world peace.

I’m also excited to let you know that nine members of the Arts Administration Graduate Association (AAGA) are attending Arts Advocacy Day in Washington D.C. this month! Later in April, AAGA is hosting its annual Arts Auction. Funds raised from the event will enable us to continue to underwrite the costs of sending our students to Arts Advocacy Day annually so that our students may engage in this important experience for free.

This year’s auction will be held on April 28th, 2017 at the URBN Center, and we are currently soliciting donations from artists and organizations. Many thanks to those who have contributed thus far. I hope to see many of you at the auction!

As always, I invite you to help shape ArtsLine, and I welcome your insights and contributions. ​

​Warmly,

Sarah Braverman
Graduate Assistant
sarahbraves@drexel.edu

Letter from the Program Directors

Jean Brody, Online Program Director

Julie Hawkins, Campus Program Director

Dear AADM Students, Alumni and Friends:

We write during an exciting time for the program, but a challenging time for all of us who care about the arts.  While Arts Administration at Drexel is thriving, the arts and cultural sector faces real threats from the current administration, which is currently considering either reductions in funding or complete elimination of several government agencies that support our work: the NEA, the NEH, IMLS, and public broadcasting are all potentially on the chopping block. In addition, charitable tax deductions may be under threat as part of a broader tax reform bill. If there was ever a time to raise your voice as an arts advocate, it’s now!

As usual, we will be sending a strong contingency to Arts Advocacy Day from the Arts Administration program. Faculty members Julie Hawkins and Jean Brody will be joined by 9 current students in Washington DC this March 20-21, including Signe Carlson, Felicia Knise, Elizabeth Marlowe, Sarah Braverman, Jiaqi Teng, Xiaoyi Cao, Xiaomeng Xiong, Danhong Chai, and Brooke Brehm. We’ve heard from a few alums who are planning to attend as well. If you’re planning to be there, send us a note to jrg462@drexel.edu and jeb327@drexel.edu.

If you can’t attend, please take a look here or check out your own state’s arts advocacy organization, and speak out for the arts!
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Faculty Highlights

Andrew Zitcer - Andrew, Julie, and Neville were invited to submit an essay to the international urban affairs website Metropolitics, on the importance of community based arts and culture. Based on their research in West Philadelphia in 2013-14, they underscore the importance of considering equality of opportunity, distributing funding to areas that need it most, and validating the work that arts does to support a well-rounded urban life. Read more at: http://www.metropolitiques.eu/The-Arts-as-Fundamental-and.html

Neville Vakharia - Neville Vakharia was awarded a $25,000 research grant from Stanford University’s Center on Philanthropy & Civil Society, and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He will conduct field research on nonprofit data sources and develop a prototype tool to assess how nonprofits and philanthropies can leverage community indicators and data as a means to enhance their programs and explore collaborations. This was a highly competitive grant program, and he was one of just seven grantees selected nationwide.
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Julie Hawkins - Julie will moderate a panel for Mural Arts Philadelphia on Tuesday, March 21st from 6 - 8:00 p.m. Part of a series of conversations and workshops this Spring in response to the current political climate, the panel continues Mural Arts Philadelphia’s dialogue with artists and activists. Visit https://www.muralarts.org/events/ for more information.

Jean Brody - Jean is participating this year in the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative. This initiative is evaluating ways that the Alliance can identify and model best practices, as well as promote best practice amongst its constituencies.

Department News:
After five years as Department Assistant and Grants Manager, Arts Administration alum Danielle Swan has moved on to a new position as Operations Manager for the Lindy Institute, right here in the URBN Center. Thanks, Danielle, for all the great years of keeping all of us on track.

Dr. Andrew Zitcer has been appointed the inaugural Program Director of the new MS in Urban Strategies, an interdisciplinary program that builds on his knowledge of urban planning and the arts. Andrew will continue to teach in Arts Administration next year, while also building his new program. Congratulations, Andrew!
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This year Drexel has added the option of minors for graduate programs. Minors have been approved for both Arts Administration and Museum Leadership, and we are starting to hear from students interested in both. These minors will be available beginning in September, and will add even greater flexibility to students majoring in Arts Administration or Museum Leadership.  
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Market Research. We have been conducting some market research, including a survey and alumni focus groups, in order to determine how best to promote the Arts Administration and Museum Leadership programs. Thanks to Carly Rapaport-Stein for her work on this project, and to all of you who have responded to her requests for participation.

Student & Alumni Research. Arts Administration students are putting their thesis research to work. This fall, Patrick Bailey, Lindsey Gearhart Nevin, and Stephanie Rankin presented their completed theses to the faculty. Leah Hamilton presented her thesis on emergency preparedness for arts organizations at the conference of Social Theory, Politics & the Arts in Montreal, Canada. Brittnie Sterner’s thesis on the organizational and cultural dynamics of First Person Arts, a live storytelling event in Philadelphia, was published in the Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society (Sterner, Brittanie. 2016. The Story Slam Model: Leveraging Autobiography in Participatory Arts for Audience Diversification. The Journal of Arts Management, Law & Society, Vol. 46 Issue 5: 274-281.)

Alumni Connections. This year we are laying the foundations for a more active role for program alumni in supporting the program. An Alumni Council has formed and is developing ways to keep you involved.  If you want to join the Council, please contact Carly Rapaport-Stein at carlyrapaportstein@gmail.com. In the meantime, here are a few things you can do:

• AAGA Auction April 28.  Save the date of April 28 for this year’s AAGA Auction at Drexel’s URBN Center. Plan to be there, bid on the great artwork and arts events, catch up with old classmates, meet the new students and recently minted alums, and generally have a great time while supporting AAGA. If you have a work of art or an arts event that you’d like to donate for the auction, contact Felicia Knise at fk332@drexel.edu.
  
• Alumni Legacy Fund. We are beginning to build a special fund that will support a variety of priorities identified by the program. These priorities include items such as support for travel to conferences for current students and recent alumni, and toward future scholarships. If you would like to help us get this fund started, please send a check in any amount made out to Drexel University, with Arts Administration in the memo line. Mail your contribution to Bridget Lynch, Department of Arts & Entertainment Enterprise, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., 71-210, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Thank you for your support!
  
• Connect More Dragons! If you know of other alums who may not be connected to the program, please encourage them to contact us with their current information so we can have up to date information on all alumni contact information as well as current employment. Send updated contact info to Julie at julie.hawkins@drexel.edu.
  

Next Generation of Arts Dragons: Is your family getting larger? Please post pictures of your new arrivals (and growing Dragons) to our Facebook pages. (Rachel Olenick, Danielle Swan, we’re looking at you!)

We’d like all alums to consider ArtsLine a great way to let our community know about your news! Please submit news about new jobs, moves, adventures, and family members to sarahbraves@drexel.edu.

​

ArtsLine: Fall 2016

To Perform with a Conviction: An Interview with Square Peg Round Hole
An American in Wiesbaden
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: An interview with Monica O. Montgomery
Makers Among Us: Spotlight on Mike Tanis

Letter from the Editor

Hello, ArtsLine Readers!

I moved to Philadelphia this September, and I have eagerly sought to become involved in as many areas that make my heart sing as possible. I’m a full-time student on campus in the Arts Administration program working as a Graduate Assistant and diving into my studies; I’ve begun to launch my knitting enterprise and am a vendor at this winter’s Go West Craft Fest; and I’ve rekindled my love of dance by joining a company. I’m tremendously excited to be in Philly and contribute to the arts and culture sector, but I’m wary of biting off more than I can chew.

How do I balance my interests with my responsibilities, especially when they overlap? How can I make time to incorporate self-care into my routine, particularly in this tense political and emotional climate? How do I learn to say “no”? I’m willing to bet I’m not the only one with these questions. With this in mind, I’d like to share the personal mission statement I wrote for Julie Goodman-Hawkins’ Overview of the Arts course this quarter:

To seek balance and joy each day while supporting the many communities I am a part of. I will accomplish this in my professional life by working in the arts and being an active member of the greater arts and cultural community, striving to provide transformative experiences reminiscent of those I have engaged in. These values will also be reflected in my personal life as I consciously carve out space to breathe and stay connected to those around me, all while cultivating personal growth.

As an extension of this mission, I’ve elected to incorporate more artists into the content of ArtsLine. I feel strongly about sustaining my own creative practices, in whatever form that my take on, and I challenge other makers and artisans to stay connected to their crafts. The fall issue of ArtsLine is loosely reflecting on the theme of balance, focusing on the dualities of work & play, artists & administrators, and members of the Drexel family & folks beyond that circle.

I’ll be mulling over these musings and more throughout the year, and I invite you to share your insight. It was wonderful to connect with members of our community at the Cocktails, Culture, & Conversation event and through interviews for this issue. I hope to continue these conversations and include updates about your work and experiences throughout the year, and I welcome you to help shape this year's ArtsLine. Keep an eye out for the upcoming winter and spring issues!

​Warmly,

Sarah Braverman
Graduate Assistant
sarahbraves@drexel.edu

Letter from the Program Directors

Jean Brody, Online Program Director

Julie Hawkins, Campus Program Director

We are well into our Fall term now, and it’s an exciting year for us in the AADM programs. We have 20+ new students from across the country and around the world, some who quite literally have one foot in each program. Writing this on the day after the Presidential election, we also feel compelled to note that our commitment to all of you, and to the role arts and culture play in the lives of people and communities, remains ever-strong. The need for the healing and community-building powers of the arts will only grow stronger in the coming years.

Those of you who have been reading Artsline for a while know that your AADM faculty have been involved in a program assessment, followed by a curriculum revision that is being implemented this fall. We are especially excited about the debut of a new course, AADM 520 Creative Enterprise and Innovation, which includes concepts drawn from Neville Vakharia’s Arts Entrepreneurship elective. We believe that entrepreneurship, and an understanding of the various and evolving ways in which arts and arts managers organize themselves, are among the key skills needed by 21st century arts leaders.

This past June, our department hosted the annual conference of the Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE). We were thrilled to see so many students and faculty members presenting at and supporting the conference, and to have a chance to show off all of our programs, our college, and many of Philadelphia’s arts leaders. Jane Golden from Mural Arts kicked off the conference, and Thora Jacobson of the Philadelphia Art Alliance offered a Mural Arts tour that closed the conference. Julie Hawkins led a panel reviewing the recent Wallace Foundation study, “Building Arts Audiences” and its use in academic settings.

Last year we also held our first-ever thesis presentations. Adrienne Harding, Brenda Colon, Tanesha Ford, and Hannah Rechtschaffen presented their research and findings on Commencement weekend, kicking off a new tradition for the programs. Stay tuned for an invitation to this year’s presentations which will be held on Saturday, December 10 from 3:30-5pm, location TBD.

Please join us for this year's special events, starting with a December 8 discussion of the new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This event, co-presented with the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, features Arts Administration faculty members John Walp, who has taught our Human Resources for the Arts course for many years, and Sharon Erwin, who originated the Law and the Arts course first for the campus, and later for the online, program. Walp and Erwin will speak about what this law requires, and how local arts organizations are adjusting. RSVP here.

Faculty Highlights

​We are very pleased to be able to announce some great news about Dr. Andrew Zitcer, including his shift to a tenure-track position in recognition of his excellent academic accomplishments.  In addition, he has been working to develop a new interdisciplinary master’s program in Urban Strategy here at Drexel.

​Neville Vakharia launched MuseumStat (http://museumstat.org/#/), an online GIS-based mapping tool that provides the museum sector with important data on museums and the communities they serve. Neville has also been appointed to the board of directors of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and the editorial board of Artivate: A Journal of Entrepreneurship in the Arts.

​

​Julie Hawkins was appointed Chair of the Mayor’s Cultural Advisory Council, supporting Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy.  

​Jean Brody organized last year’s very successful conference of the Association of Arts Administration Educators.

​Among our many goals for the coming year will be continuing to build closer ties between current students and our extensive alumni network. Jean will be gathering a group of Texas-based alums at the National Arts Marketing Project conference in Austin in November, and we will be continuing to reach out to our alums in support of AAGA and other activities.

Please join us as often as you can!


Student, Faculty, & Alumni News

• Lindsey Crane recently moved to New York City to pursue a new position as Program Officer, Cultural Investments for the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, a local economic development organization serving the communities of Upper Manhattan including Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood.
• Liz McClearn is now the Grants and Corporate Development Manager at Musicopia and Dancing Classrooms Philly.
• Greg Seamon will be the new Programming Manager at the Kimmel Center, beginning December 1, 2016.
• Neville K. Vakharia, Assistant Professor and Research Director, has many recent highlights from his work to share with our community.
  • Neville presented his research on an empirical study of a quantitative model of organizational practices in the performing arts and their correlation to performance metrics at the prestigious European Group for Organization Studies management conference in Naples, Italy.
  • His article, “Creating Space” was published in the GIA Reader, based on my research into developing a new program model for meeting the space needs of performing artists through excess capacity of historic, sacred places.
  • Neville’s research article, “Knowledge-Centric Arts Organizations: Connecting Practice to Performance” was accepted into the International Journal of Arts Management and will be published in an upcoming issue. The article was co-authored with AADM alumna Divya Janardhan (’10).

We’d like all alums to consider ArtsLine a great way to let our community know about your news! Please submit news about new jobs, moves, adventures, and family members to sarahbraves@drexel.edu.

​

ArtsLine is the Drexel Arts Administration quarterly newsletter focusing on the program, the arts & culture sector, and the students' perspective!
Editor's Letter: Spring 2015
My grandmother, a dancer and a sculptor, held strong opinions on everything, art included. When I was a freshman in college, she took me to a series of modern art galleries on the lower east side of New York City, a few blocks from her apartment. While I looked at the exhibits with a vague non-comprehension, she walked around the galleries, studying. Her intense gaze as she charted her path around the art, leaning heavily on her cane and unwaveringly connected to the world, is imprinted in my mind's eye.
Later, over lunch, when I asked her what she found gripping about the art, she answered with an opinion that I've since unabashedly adopted. It isn't so much about beauty, she said, but rather, is it interesting? Does it make you think? Do you see the world differently?
At that moment, I did.

It was a comprehension of the "aha" moment, and I grasped it through a combination of the intellectual and the instinctual. I understood my grandmother's artistic "aha" moment, and, at a gut level, knew that it went beyond the artistic, that she was defining the transformative moment of change - that split second when you understand an idea, where it changes your perception of yourself or the world. The idea can be communicated through myriad media - writing, lectures, art, a class, a conversation - but the brain's lightbulb zings with a resonant pop when that change occurs.My brain has been zinging nonstop since my arrival on campus, although I'm certain the "zing" has been helped by my exponentially increased consumption of coffee. Through classes, conversations, endless reading, and participation in the program-wide planning process (the much-mentioned Program Alignment and Review!), my outlook on the arts and, more broadly, on myself, has been wakened, stretched, and re-formed.
And so, for my final issue as the editor of ArtsLine, I decided to reflect on these past months by exploring change broadly - from "aha" moments, to transformative experiences, to forward-looking predictions. This issue contains a conversation with Michael Kaiser, thoughts on arts advocacy, the necessary changes required for music conservatories, ideas about how the arts world will change, and the changes our own students, alumni, and faculty have made as their professional lives soar.
I wish you a wonderful summer, and hope you'll join me in looking forward to welcoming the next editor of ArtsLine in Fall 2015!


Carly Rapaport-Stein
Graduate Assistant, ArtsLine



Spring 2015


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Fall 2014


Spring 2014


Winter 2014


Fall 2013


Spring 2013


Fall 2012
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