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Arts Development Officer
All you need to know about becoming Arts Development Officer!
Qualifications/ Experience needed:
Relevant work experience, degree (although a practical media/ theatre production one is more beneficial than those ‘Theoretical' ones!)
Your Typical Day:
On any given day I work on any one of 3 projects depending on time of year: Youth Theatre, Arts Network or Big Tickle Comedy Festival – My week comprises of two classes, several meetings and putting together project ideas for grant applications and or developing projects within a specific area of arts for community groups, arts organizations etc.
What do you love about your job?
The creativity and the fact that I do a lot of different forms of work from teaching, theatre direction, festival production and development work in the field. I like seeing the results of my work also, ie: people going on to further education in the arts, a quality production and seeing organizations building on the skills I can provide them with.
What do you hate about your job?
The long hours and the state of the building I'm in: it's cold!!
How does a young person get started in a career like yours?
Work experience is invaluable. A degree is beneficial even to find out what it is you want to do or don't want! Perseverance is also essential and it helps to be multi-skilled. Don't be afraid to take every opportunity that comes but make sure you learn from it!
Qualities you need for this job?
Strong communication skills, organization, creativity (in the sense of working with what you have: money isn't abundant!) and commitment.
Advice for wannabes:
Make sure you enjoy what you're doing, get plenty of work experience, a good level of literacy (you'd be surprised the amount of bad spellers (!) in this business and if you're filling out any sort of funding application it helps to have a good grasp of the English language). Be able to take constructive criticism and learn from your successes as well as mistakes and work as a team player.
