Arts Management Apprenticeship
Notes from a Participant

This type of work-based training scheme gives its participants the invaluable opportunity to participate in paid work experience. This scheme has allowed me to use and enhance my skills on a day-to-day basis in a real-life work environment. Working for an arts company in this way has also given me the opportunity to absorb and acquire vast amounts of information and knowledge concerning arts management practices and running of arts organisations that it would have been impossible to gain in any other kind of training environment.

Since working with Volcano I have been able to get involved with numerous aspects of running an arts organisation. I have developed skills and knowledge in dealing with finance, organising workshops and community projects, contracting temporary and freelance staff, strategic thinking and policy development, booking and organising international and national tours, press and public relations work and, have extensively worked in partnership with funders, arts and cultural organisations and individuals. Alongside the actual work and tasks that I have been involved in, working with Volcano has also allowed me to make contacts, network, and learn trade secrets that would otherwise have been unavailable to me and all of which are invaluable when working in the arts industry.

I believe, an apprenticeship scheme like the one running at Volcano is the best possible way for an aspiring arts manager or administrator to get a foot in the door of this highly competitive sector. I think it is however very important to choose candidates for this type of scheme carefully. Without being exclusive I would suggest that an individual with some level of administration experience is definitely desirable as it means that you can get on and do tasks rather than having to learn all the basics of filing systems and letter writing for example. Due to the unique nature of the sector experience of working or participating in the arts or at least a significant interest in the industry is also useful.

The programme running at Volcano is currently only ten weeks long; this is not ideal and is directly related to problems concerning the funding of the scheme. I think to fully reap the benefits of a project like this six months would be a good minimum, preferably a year's scheme would enable participants to see through all their projects and also to evaluate them. I also think that in a year it would be easier to see the 'bigger picture' as it were, the future development of the Company, the way that one financial year feeds into the next and one season of work is directly related to the following one.

On a personal note, I have just been offered my first full time, paid, position in the arts and I fully believe that this is as a direct result of the scheme that I have been involved in at Volcano. I can not emphasise enough how important and valuable training like this is.

To discuss anything further or for any other info anyone can get in touch with me at e.kirsopp@ntlworld.com

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