Lab In Arts Managment
and Arts Management Partnership

Registration for the winter/spring 2008 session of the Laboratory in Arts Management is now closed.

The Laboratory in Arts Management fosters peer mentorship by expanding the number of individuals who are qualified to offer one-on-one administrative and managerial support to performing artists. The program was introduced in 2004 in response to the tremendous need expressed by artists for individualized, affordable professional guidance. Over the course of 10 weeks, Lab participants work closely with established professionals to better understand the core principles of arts management with a focus on strategic thinking, fundraising, booking/touring, marketing and relationship building. Recent instructors include Keith Butler, Laura Colby, Lisa Phillips, Janet Stapleton, and Naomi Vladeck.

The program includes a workshop and a hands-on component. As a way to put knowledge into action, Dance Theater Workshop pairs Lab participants with artist members for an Arts Management Partnership. Over the course of the Lab, managers and artists work together on administrative projects in fundraising, project development, marketing, and booking, among other arts management tasks. The goal of the partnership is to expand the laboratory experience beyond the classroom into real-life situations. The partnership also encourages the development of relationships with artists who may be interested in working with a manager beyond the allotted initial time frame.

Lab participants are required to take part in at least one artist partnership. The structure for each partnership is negotiated directly between the Lab participant and the artist. Each artist partner agrees to work with the Lab participant for a total of 15 to 25 hours and to pay the Lab participant $10/hour for their time.

Participation in the Laboratory in Arts Management and Arts Management Partnership is by application only. The Lab is open to Arts Administrators interested in honing their management skills and developing consulting relationships with the dance community, as well as administrators already working with an artist or company. Individual artists with a demonstrated commitment to establishing a professional infrastructure for their work may also be considered for the program. Applicants should have some experience working in arts administration. In order to apply for an Arts Management Partnership, artists must be current members of Dance Theater Workshop.