Navigating a Career in the Arts:

A Conversation with Local Arts Leaders

A Creative Conversation Hosted by Silicon Valley Emerging Leaders in the Arts

Do you currently work in the arts? Are you interested in pursuing a career in the arts? Have you always wanted to know more about what goes on behind the scenes of an arts organization? Well this is your chance. This event involves a series of roundtable discussions that will enable you to talk with established arts leaders and find out what it takes to work in arts management, what to expect and explore the different career paths you can take in the arts.  

Hear from eight established local arts leaders through two, 30-minute roundtable discussions in the following careers: Executive Director, Development Director, Artistic/Program Director or Curator, and Marketing Director and get a chance meet and share ideas with other future arts leaders.

When: Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Where: San Jose Repertory Theatre, Rehearsal Hall

Time: 5-7PM

Cost: FREE Space is limited.

To RSVP, please send an email to jrussell@artscouncil.org by Friday, October 5.  

Current List of Panelists:

Executive Director

Jeffry Walker, Executive Director, Community School of Music & Arts; Cathy Kimball, Executive Director, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art;

Marketing/Communications Director

Lee Kopp, Director of Marketing and Publicity, Ballet San Jose;

Shannon McDonnell, Marketing Manager, San Francisco Symphony;

Development Director

Anne Holmes, Director of Development, TheatreWorks;

Monika Churchill, Director of Development, San Jose Repertory Theatre;

Artistic Director

Chike Nwoffiah, Executive & Artistic Director, Oriki Theater;

Elisa Marie Alvarado, Artistic Director, Teatro Vision.

Who we are: In collaboration with Americans for the Arts, the Silicon Valley Emerging Leaders in the Arts is made up of arts professionals representing nine different local arts and cultural organizations. Our goal is to serve young arts professionals who are in the beginning stages of their careers or people who recently joined the field.

What is a creative conversation: Creative Conversations are local gatherings of emerging leaders in communities across the country and are part of a grassroots movement to elevate the profile of arts in America during National Arts and Humanities Month every October.

To learn more about creative conversations in other communities accross the country, visit the Americans for the Arts website: