The connections you make with your colleagues during your program at Centennial are invaluable and can extend beyond graduation into the workforce. This is particularly true for two Arts Management graduates Gemma Bordonaro, a Production Manager at Harbourfront Centre who graduated in 2019, and Pam Briz, a Producer at Harbourfront Centre who graduated in 2017.
"Gemma is in the production department, so we often work very closely on events,” Pam shares. “I thought it was great when I learned she came from the same program! I knew she would be great to work with.”
Gemma began working with Pam when she first joined. “I started working alongside Pam when I first started at Harbourfront in 2019 as an Assistant Production Coordinator. Originally, Pam and I worked together only on certain events I had been assigned to work on, particularly the most notable one being the Dancing on the Pier series that summer. That was one of the highlights of my first summer at Harbourfront,” she explains.
“This was when I discovered we were both graduates of the same program. Knowing Pam was doing so well for herself gave me hope that I could do that and follow my passions soon after graduation. Since then, Pam and I have worked together more closely since I moved up to my role as Production Manager, and we see each other most days in and around the office. We worked together as the leads on a few festivals in 2022—most notably Taiwanfest and Nordic Talks/Nordic Bridges,” Gemma adds.
However, the connections don't just stop there. Gemma has also worked with Arts Management grads Rebecca Reid, who works with The Power Plant (TPP), and Allie Fenwick, who works with the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA). “My team does not work with them as much as we work with the Cultural Engagement department that houses both Pam and Diana, but it is so nice to see them both around and know they are thriving in their careers,” Gemma shares.
She adds, "Something incredible about the program is that it sets you up for the real world. It provides you with connections and experience like no other that you can carry into the workforce. That is proof when you see four grads working for a large organization like the Harbourfront Centre and its subsidiaries, TPP and TIFA. I adore working with all of them, as we are all like-minded and came from the same background."
Diana Webley, an instructor in the Arts Management program and Senior Producer at Harbourfront Centre, has also worked with Pam and Gemma, adding further ties to the program.
“Diana Webley and I have also worked very closely together since I joined Harbourfront and during my time at Centennial. My second semester of the program was the first semester Diana taught in the program, so we were the guinea pigs for her,” Gemma shares. “She taught me so much and is a big part of the reason I decided to go down the path of events, as opposed to something like Marketing or Fundraising. She was one of my references when I first applied to Harbourfront. Since then, we have worked closely together on Island Soul and other events/festivals.”
Pam also works closely with Diana, the manager of Pam’s department. She explains, “Diana actually interviewed me during second interviews. She has been a great resource as she has a ton of organizational knowledge and experience. Diana was not my instructor, but I first met her at the Arts Ahead symposium.”
I love that the grads are getting hired at these amazing, established Canadian cultural organizations, and I think it speaks to the quality of the program at Centennial. I have met other grads through working at Harbourfront and have definitely made connections across cohorts. I stay in touch with many classmates and instructors and have made new connections with other grads and professionals in the industry through Centennial. - Pam Briz
The Arts Management Experience
“I grew up in the theatre world, being one of those kids who always thought she was destined for Broadway,” Gemma shares. As she grew older, her love for the spotlight dwindled and the backstage production side of things felt like a better fit.
After graduating from her undergrad in theatre, Gemma pursued the Arts Management program, but she first discovered the program because of a class she took at her university. “In my last year of university, I needed to answer the age-old question of ‘what do I want to do with my life?’ at the ripe old age of 21. At the time, I was taking an elective class as part of my degree called Arts Management, and it was a class I loved, learned a lot from, and didn’t mind that I had to roll out of bed for an 8:00 a.m. class. I did some research and found the Centennial College program, and the rest is history,” she shares.
Similarly, Pam’s passion for the stage and performing arts is what helped forge the path to where she is today. “I have been a professional flamenco dancer for most of my life and have always been involved in the performing arts. My parents are from Spain, and I was introduced to flamenco at a young age,” she shares. “I started thinking about what I might do after hanging up my dance shoes and knew I wanted to still be in the arts industry, even if it meant being behind the scenes and not on stage. That’s when I discovered the Arts Management program at Centennial and knew that it was a perfect fit.”
Lessons From the Program and Beyond
Teamwork and time management were some of the main lessons Gemma took away from the program, and they still stand out to her today in her career. “A big element of the program was group projects, presentations, and events that would only work if everyone contributed their parts and everyone was on the same page. This has become very relevant in my work life since it is extremely common for my role to work across departments, with various teams, and create lasting and impactful relationships with external partners and rental clients,” she says.
As Gemma reflects on the time after graduation and finding a job, she notes how the pandemic played a role and caused several hurdles that no one could have anticipated. As she navigated the events industry, she experienced delays and cancellations, and she shares how it was necessary to rebuild what events look like in a post-lockdown world.
“I was in an interesting position working in the events sector, learning how things would change now that we had all lived through a time when large-scale events were essentially banned, and people were more nervous coming out when there were large crowds gathered. Navigating this was definitely a learning curve, but one that will make us stronger in the long run producing accessible live events,” she says.
We are so thrilled to see Pam and Gemma in the workforce together, showcasing their incredible talents. It is evident that bonds transcend cohorts, and we are proud to witness the strong and lasting connections formed between Centennial alumni.
Article by: Alexandra Few
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