When Toronto Harbourfront Centre’s Kuumba turned 25 in February 2020, it was a powerful celebration of the arts. As the city’s longest running Black History Month festival, Kuumba25 featured everything from a sneaker display by footwear design legend D’Wayne Edwards to month-long exhibitions by local visionaries such as photographer William Ukoh, LEGO artist Ekow Nimako and Afrofuturist artist Yung Yemi. With curator Ashley McKenzie-Barnes envisioning the event, Harbourfront’s associate producer, Pam Briz, and her team brought it to life.
A product of Arts Management at Centennial College, Briz says the program’s real-life applications and the resulting skill set have been keys to her success as an arts manager.
“I credit the program with where I am,” says Briz, a professional flamenco dancer of 30 years who wanted to hone her skills to enter a full-time position in the arts after taking time off to have a family. “I have an amazing job. It’s my dream job. The thing that stood out for me about the program was the real-world, practical learning. We had chances to work with real organizations and even our assignments were based on real organizations.”
The one-year Arts Management program combines arts-related business management, marketing and planning with the tools required to connect art, artists and audiences through fundraising, education and volunteerism. In addition to industry-based assignments, it prepares students through mentorship, a field placement and an Arts Management student-led arts symposium, Arts Ahead. It features workshops, panels, networking and discussions between arts professionals, students and art patrons.
“That one culminating event and what it took to bring it to life are the skills I use now when I program and produce large events with my team,” Briz says. “The program was a lot of work and going through it was intense, but it’s so practical that I recommend it to anyone.”
Beyond recommending it to those aspiring to launch an arts career, Briz is also helping to shape the program’s direction. Since graduating in 2017, she has returned to the College as an Arts Management Program Advisory Committee member. Comprised of senior-level arts management professionals, the committee helps to determine curriculum and delivery.
“When program coordinator, Rebecca Peirson, approached me to join, I thought that having gone through the experience, my voice would be valuable and it would allow me to advocate for the arts,” she says. “Beyond that, I learn a lot from my PAC colleagues, who are all so brilliant. It’s a great way to stay connected.”
It’s not the first time Briz has benefited from Centennial’s connectivity. She says one of the highlights of Arts Management is its dedicated faculty members. For example, Briz says many of her “ah-ha” moments as she navigated the program resulted from conversations with Peirson, whose mentorship ultimately helped Briz to determine her arts career direction.
“The Arts Management program gives you opportunities to explore options, meet people and build relationships,” she says. “But you have to find the drive to take initiative and actively pursue those opportunities. For me, the drive was my two kids and husband. It was important I succeeded.”
Apply to the Arts Management program today.
Written by: Izabela Szydlo