Shane shares arts administration expertise

 
Photo by Charlie Ribbens


By: Monique Bos
Published: Friday, February 29, 2008


“Arts administration is a perfect fit for SCAD,” said Rachel Shane, Ph.D., who joined the Savannah College of Art and Design faculty three years ago to help launch the arts administration graduate program. “The entire student body is interested in how arts and entertainment function in [society].”

She has written the curriculum for and teaches all the graduate courses.

“The program focuses on principles of arts administration, such as legal issues, raising funds for arts organizations and promoting the arts,” she explained. “It’s been really exciting, because I think it’s an extremely unique opportunity to have the chance to start a program from the ground up, and to think how we can position our program among all the programs nationally … I visualize this graduate program becoming the leading one in the country.”

Shane also wrote an undergraduate arts administration minor, which launches this spring. “For undergraduate students, it’s ‘How do I as an artist navigate the industry as it’s set up? How do I fit in? Where do I best get my work seen under the existing structure?’”

Her own background — both educational and professional — qualifies her to effectively answer those questions.

Shane didn’t set out to become an arts administrator; she earned an undergraduate degree in acting at Northern Arizona University.

“My first job was with a theater company in Florida. I actually was in an apprentice program, and while I was there I realized I wanted to continue to be involved in the arts but not as an actor,” she said. “So I decided to get involved in the administrative aspects … I realized that I wanted to have a life in the arts, but I didn’t want to have the lifestyle of an artist, traveling constantly and working at all kinds of different theater companies.”

She worked as the theater’s associate director of education for three years, and then accepted a similar position at the Delaware Theatre Co. in Wilmington.

“Really, I was in charge of all the administrative tasks,” she said. “After I had been there for a year, I started graduate work to learn all of the skill-based concepts — marketing, fundraising and management theory.”

She commuted to Drexel University in Philadelphia, and after earning her master’s degree in arts administration, she signed on as managing director of the Elm Shakespeare Co. in New Haven, Conn.

“It was basically a festival-type organization,” she explained. “They produced a summer festival and held educational programs year-round.”

Shane left that job to begin a doctoral program in cultural policies and the arts at Ohio State University.

“I was interested in moving to academia and being able to teach students about arts administration, which I have grown to just adore,” she explained. “I had a pretty unique opportunity to be able to study with Margaret Wyszomirski, who is probably the most prolific author in the area of cultural policy, which is … focused on how the arts are influenced by the national economy, how the arts function in national and international arenas, and the relationship of governments, both federal and state, to the arts.”

Shane said because these issues affect artists, designers, entertainers and writers, arts administration classes are germane for students in many SCAD majors.

And the response from students has impressed her.

“The graduate students are passionate, knowledgeable and strong writers,” she said. “They’re interested in making an impact on the arts.”

In addition, she said, they are eager to utilize internship opportunities with local organizations, even when they don’t receive any pay or course credit for their efforts.

“It speaks to how committed they are to the field,” Shane said.

Students in one of her classes, Raising Funds for Arts Organizations, are planning a March 7 event for the SCAD community. “Make Starving Artists a Thing of the Past,” which takes place in the Oglethorpe House ballroom from 2-5 p.m., will feature two panel discussions about making a living and marketing work in the arts.

“It has given the students hands-on experience in how to plan an event,” Shane said. “They’ve actually gotten to see the highs, the lows, the challenges and the opportunities that come up, and have explored how to overcome them.”



Make Starving Artists a Thing of the Past
presented by the arts administration department and the Student Association of Arts Administrators

March 7, 2-5 p.m., Oglethorpe House ballroom, 201 W. Oglethorpe Ave.
The event features games, prizes, food and two panel presentations by professionals:

“Show Me the Money: How to Make a Living in the Arts,” 2 p.m.

• Amy Belnap, grants manager, Telfair Museum of Art
  
• Gene Pinion, education and program manager, Savannah Music Festival
  
• Sharon Ott, theatrical director, producer and SCAD performing arts professor
  

“Maximum Exposure: Connecting Your Work with the Pros,” 3:30 p.m.

• Andrew Meyer, film producer and SCAD film and television professor
• Marcus Kenney, visual artist
• Katrina Sage, fashion director, The South magazine
  

This event is free and open to all members of the SCAD community.
Students and faculty of the arts administration department will available to discuss the program and the benefits of taking a class, attaining a minor or earning a graduate degree in arts administration.