The end is steadily approaching

Its that time of the year where I start freaking out because there are so many things to get done in three very short weeks, one of them being a project for this class that I haven't even started on, ahhhhh! But oh well, I'll get it all done somehow. But as I think back over this semester, I'm realizing how much I have and how much I have learned, partly because of this class. I've known what it is that I want to do with my future (or so I think) since last semester, but because of this class I've been able to really hone in on exactly it is that I want to do. I really want to work for a community arts program. I thought for awhile that I wanted to create one of these programs, but I think that because I want to have a family, and hopefully not have to work full time for the rest of my life, that I would much rather work for someone else, and promote their program than be my own boss. I've began to realize that I don't just love dance, I just love the arts. Mostly I love dance, because its mine, but I really do love all of the arts. I don't know much about the other art forms, and this is my next goal over my last two years of college so that when I graduate, I will be versed (I won't say well-versed because there's no way I could be well-versed after just two years) in most of the art areas.

Piccolo Spoleto Festival

I was just offered a position with the Piccolo Spoleto Festival for the summer. All my praying and hard work is finally paying off, and I'm oh so very excited! I'll be getting to assist in the planning and carrying out of the festival. I'm going to get lots of first hand experience doing all of the thing that I love such as organizing, planning, and managing- all in the arts field! Better yet, I can get 3 hours worth of class credit for it! I'm still waiting to hear back from BAX, but Piccolo is probably going to be my plan for the summer so that I can save lots of money and hopefully go to New York next summer!

BAX

So, I just received an e-mail from BAX!!! I'm excited even though all it said was to re-submit my application in the .doc format! HAHA! I know I'm getting a little too excited, but at least contact has been made! Let's hope for the best!

Sad day...Turned around...Hopefully

So today started as a sad day, I applied for an apprentice position with the Spoleto Festival a few months ago, and I got a letter back today saying that I did not get the position. This really bummed me out, but rather than being grumpy all day, I decided to be proactive and see what I could do to change the situation. I have been looking at other internship positions that I have been too scared to apply for because they are not in Charleston (which is home for me). But today, I applied to intern at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange, in New York City. The position they are offering sounds exactly like what I want to do, and I'm so excited that I've applied for it. I think it will fit me much better than the Spoleto position would have. I hope that God is laying things out to work out in a completely different, but more perfect for me kind of way. Let's all keep our fingers crossed!

Business Plan Revised

So after some thinking I've changed my mind a little about what I want to do with my future. This is my new concept statement...

I would like to be involved with a community arts program for public school children so that more children will be able to experience the arts. Programs such as these are not taken advantage of in the south, so I would like to help to make one of these programs more popular. Having the arts integrated into a child's education allows him/her to experience a deeper level of learning. Programs that are already integrated into the school day will be convenient because children will be offered programs in schools that they would usually have to pay for outside of school.

I still want to be involved with the same things in the future, I've just decided that I would like to have a family and I don't think this would be possible with starting my own organization. I would rather work for an already existing arts organization.

Business Concept Statement

We had to write a Business Concept Statement for homework, and as I re-read mine, I'm beginning to re-think it quite a bit. But for now it reads...

I would like to create a a community arts program for public school children so that they get to experience the arts in their everyday school life. There are not many programs like this in the South, therefore I think this is why a program such as this is needed. Having the arts integrated into their education will allow children to experience a deeper level of learning. A program such as this will be convenient because children will be offered so many opportunities while in school that parents would usually have to put their child in after school activities for them to experience.

Urban Gateways

So, in my first post I talked about what I hope to do with my life. Now I'm going to tell you how I came to this decision. Last semester I had this light bulb moment where I thought I knew what I wanted to do with my life, however, when I went to talk to Dr. Laff (a professor that works in our career services office) he enlightened me with so many new ideas. He talked to me about all the things I love: dance, the arts, sharing the arts with others, etc. and helped me to realize all of the possibilities I could do with all of my loves. One awesome program he showed me was an organization called, Urban Gateways. This is a program that was started by Jessie Woods. On the front page of their website this is what is says, "Urban Gateways specializes in bringing the best of the visual, literary, media and performing arts to children in school-based and community settings throughout the Chicago area. Founded in 1961, Urban Gateways excels at deepening the artistic experience for all youth by ensuring that the arts play a critical role in every child's education." This is exactly what I think every child deserves, and since I will most likely live in South Carolina for the remainder of my life, I would love for something such as this program to be started in our state.

Hopes...and Dreams...

I am taking a class entitled: "The Business of the Arts." Creating this blog is a class assignment, but I think it will help me to organize all the crazy thoughts that I have running through my head about what I want to do with my life. Last semester I decided that I no longer wanted to get a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography, because choreographing is not something that I have a passion for anymore. I loved to choreograph in high school, but I have learned that there are other things that I love so much more now. I consider myself a member of the arts community, and I have considered myself a member since elementary school (obviously, I didn't consciously when I was 6, but looking back on it now, I do). Now, instead of making art, I want to help others promote their art, and share art with everyone, especially children. I was educated in the arts just as much as I was educated in all other areas and I believe it is so important for children to be educated in this way. I feel like I received a deeper level of education because I went to an arts magnet school for elementary, middle, and high school. Having the opportunity to go to music, dance, and art class as well as go to math, science, and English class allowed me to learn more fully. I do not think the arts are emphasized enough in South Carolina Public Schools, and I would love to help change this. This is my hope for the future, for the arts to be more fully integrated into public school education. I'm not sure how I'm going to get there yet, but this is still my dream.