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Exploring Arts Careers with Presentation Series at Endicott College

January 30, 2017

Endicott College will host a series of one-hour informal talks by pivotal administrators from 12 renowned arts institutions in Exploring the World of Arts Agencies and Professions. The series kicks off with a talk by Anita Walker, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, February 1 in the Spencer Presentation Gallery at Endicott College. The talks are an essential component of the Arts Administration Program at Endicott; the public is also encouraged to attend at no cost.

Other presenters in the Exploring the World of Arts Agencies and Professions series include:

February 8 - Walter Manninen, Art Collector, Benefactor and Entrepreneur;
February 15 – Jessica Roscio, Curator, Danforth Art Museum\School;
February 22 - Sarah Kennel, Curator of Photography, Peabody Essex Museum;
March 1 – Paula Conrad, Co-Executive Director, Express Yourself;
March 8 – Karen Ristuben, President, Rocky Neck Art Colony;
March 22 – Stephanie Schilling, Director of Budget and Finance, Harvard Art Museums;
March 29 – Debra Lakind, Director of Business Development and Strategic Partners, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston;
April 5 – Courtney Shimer, School Operations Manager, Boston Ballet;
April 12 – Toby Schine, Executive Director, Boston Children’s Theatre;
April 19, Sarah Blume, Director of Major gifts, Boston Lyric Opera;
April 26 – Laura Chadwell, Community Programs Director, Cambridge Community Art Center.

All presentations are on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 pm in the Spencer Presentation Gallery at Endicott College.

The Arts Administration Program is managed by Mark Towner, Dean of Visual and Performing Arts at Endicott College. Of the importance of such opportunities, Dean Towner said: “Contrary to popular misconceptions, there is a broad array of career prospects for those interested in working in the arts. What better way to inform our students and the community than hearing firsthand from passionate professionals?”

The Arts Administration Program at Endicott supports the College’s commitment to experiential learning through the extensive internship program. In fact, many of Towner’s students have interned at highly regarded agencies such as the Boston Ballet, Peabody Essex Museum, and the MFA-Boston. More impressively, a variety of alumni have gone on to work after graduation at the Cape Cod Art Foundation, Sotheby’s, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Boston Ballet.

Towner’s extensive experience in arts administration motivated him to share his successes with students at Endicott and the greater Boston community. Appointed Dean in 2000, he held previous professional positions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Northeast Document Conservation Center, and the American Craft Museum, and previous academic appointments at the University of Iowa, Saint Mary’s College at Notre Dame, Ohio University, and Wayne State University. Towner earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College and his Master of Fine Arts degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art where his studies included aesthetics, photography, and printmaking.

If you have any questions regarding Exploring the World of Arts Agencies and Professions or other related programs, please contact Kathleen Moore at 978-232-2655 or kmoore@endicott.edu.