I'm realising how useful it has been to have my one-day-a-week fall on staff meeting days. I now have some idea of the many things going on at the centre, but more importantly I actually know what people do - beyond curators arranging things on walls or marketing staff sending out flyers.
I'm impressed by the positivity in these meetings, be it about a great show coming up, high attendance numbers or low attendance and a quality experience. This is nothing like staff meetings at my workplace which regularly become a list of 'watch-outs' and venting grounds for ever unfixable problems - unfortunately I can't claim to be above a lot of the whining. As much as I know it's good to acknowledge stress at work, it's been really refreshing to see the flip side of sharing good stories.
Chatting to one of the Creative Producers yesterday, he was explaining how he managed to by-bass arts administration qualifications through professional experience and specialist knowledge. Partly because of this background he can so effective in bridging gaps between community and arts organisations, which explains why specialisation in arts management isn't always a good thing... I think the people (students and lecturers) that have most impressed me through this masters have been those that bring their non-high-arts experience.
You make a really interesting point here. I agree with you, it is great when you have the opportunity to work with people with a diversity of experience - especially in the arts. In the past I have worked with some really brilliant people who have sadly become jaded and 'institutionalised'. Sometimes this diminishes their effectiveness and infects others.
ReplyDeleteI think managing organisational culture is a critical skill for leaders in the arts.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. This is a great blog.
The culture really makes the organisation. It is so refreshing to work for an organisation where everyone is on-board and positive about the place. There is nothing worse than a whiny problems-focused culture. My experience so far in the arts has been that the org cultures have been good because the positions are so few and far between and everyone is very grateful to be in their role!
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