Arts Ahead is always an exciting time in the Arts Management program. Students work collaboratively to put together an incredible symposium, which includes scouting a location, organizing the theme, deciding who the speakers will be and what workshops will take place, and more.
Last year, we had two students (now graduates) in the Arts Management program, Reid and Charmian, on our podcast, Storyteller In-Depth, to talk about the ins and outs of this year-end symposium. Listen here.
This year's theme was Interweaving Threads: Cultural Collaboration in the Arts. "2024 marked the 9th edition of Arts Ahead, and that is quite something, and so was this year's cohort," Program Coordinator Rebecca Peirson shares. "It's all about building partnerships in the arts and Arts Ahead is a mighty fine example of this."
Reflecting on how the symposium went, Emma Morin, part of the Operations team, says, "I was a bit nervous the day of the symposium, but it was mostly excitement. It was so great to see all our hard work over the past few months finally come to life. The whole day went so well; I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better."
She continues, “My favourite moment was in the morning as everyone was checking in and mingling. Getting to see people reconnect with old friends and form new relationships was a heartwarming reminder of why I went into the arts in the first place—the people.”
Emma’s work on the operations team involved handling the event's logistics, such as organizing the venue and catering. “I was the main point of contact for our venue and catering as well as the other team leads, so communication was one of my biggest responsibilities,” she shared. “The last thing I did for Arts Ahead was put together our schedule for the day, which was a challenge, but the day needed to run as smoothly as it did.”
Leah Marcelo, the Co-Chair for the symposium, shares similar sentiments as she reflects on how things went that day. “I went to the venue that morning confident the symposium would run smoothly, knowing that the cohort gave our best in preparing for the event,” she shares. “Even so, I was a ball of nerves that day, not only because I [was] an MC for our event—public speaking is not one of my preferred activities—but also because I want to do well as a Filipina living in Toronto and the only Filipino in the cohort; to represent the courage, capacity, and toughness of Filipina Cultural Art Workers.”
Seeing attendees enjoy themselves was something that provided Leah immense satisfaction. “In every event I have managed, it is always the goal. To make sure that everyone is engaged and having fun,” she adds.
Advice for Future Arts Management Students
Emma’s advice while attending the symposium is to enjoy it. “Try not to worry too much on the day of the symposium so that you can have some fun! Make the most of the networking opportunities and enjoy the process; your cohort is your network. It can be hard to enjoy the stressful moments during the planning process, but these are the moments where you will learn the most,” she says.
As for preparing beforehand, Leah advises carefully considering which committee they would like to join. She explains, “Would you want to develop a specific skill you already have, or do you want to explore a different area of expertise? I asked myself those questions, which helped me choose the committee I wanted to join.”
She adds, “Do not be afraid to ask questions or to make mistakes. Arts Ahead is the perfect platform to gain experience in event management, especially for those new to it. The symposium has low stakes since the program faculty guides you throughout the event planning process. No matter what happens, someone will guide you through the work as long as you openly communicate your tasks, progress, and concerns.”
Congratulations to the students involved in such an incredible symposium!
Article by: Alexandra Few
Photos taken by Diya Vasudevan and Kasia Swintak
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