In this compulsory second year module for Acting and Community Theatre students will examine a range of community theatre contexts of arts management. Students will explore the structure and management of small-scale community and voluntary sector arts organisations, and community and education departments within large organisations. The module includes preparation for work placements assessed in the final year. By the end of the module students will be prepared to learn and begin to apply arts administration skills in a professional company context.
Aspects of event management and production management will be explored. This may include such aspects as marketing, databases, budgets, liaison with agencies, licensing, risk assessment, audience management and other aspects of Health and Safety, along with scheduling and logistics.
Module Content
The structure and purpose of organisations involved in community theatre: community, voluntary, public and relevant departments under the umbrella of larger organisations.
Case studies in organisational structure of small to medium-sized arts organisations and departments:
Management structures, organisational roles, project roles
Involvement of administrative support through the life of a project
Relationship of artistic and production goals of a project
Placement of a company through its philosophy and organisational style
Databases, budgets and the use of Excel
Cultural policy development, its underlying assumptions and its influence on arts organisations
How projects are funded
Case studies of management in community arts organisations
Basic arts administration skills
CV preparation and presentation, interview and self-presentation skills applicable to:
An independent, freelance artist
A small-scale performing arts organisation
Community/Education departments within large organisations
In preparation for entry to their final professional preparation year, students will learn how to explore avenues to approaching companies who employ performers in the community theatre sector and recognise their transferable skills from non-theatrical employment.
Students will meet guest lecturers from organisations in the community theatre sector, initiating the establishment of networks with arts practitioners in Southend, London and the South East England region. Students will undertake research to identify opportunities for their final work placements and investigate organisations:
Philosophy
Style
Working practices
Level of activity in the community sector
Culture and management
Funding
Students may undertake initial observation visits to potential work placement providers
Event management will be explored in the context of the annual street theatre event. Students will undertake production roles, focusing on:
Liaison with agencies an licensing
Marketing and promotion
Liaison and engagement of the community
Risk assessment, audience management and other aspects of Health and Safety
Scheduling and logistics
The definition and functions of key role in production management
They will consider issues of scale, visibility, sightlines, audibility and accessibility in outdoor performance and explore approaches to capturing and sustaining the audiences' attention outdoors. Students will learn how to encourage and manage audience participation through the design of outdoor performance.
Module Aims
To introduce students to management of the voluntary and community arts sectors
To explore a range of arts organisational roles and processes
To reflect on the role of organisations in community theatre provision
To develop an understanding of the management of arts organisations in preparation for the placement with a company
To experince production management through the development and delivery of an event
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate ability to:
Understand the processes of a range of arts organisations
Understand the roles and responsibilities in production management
Critically analyses arts organisations' business and marketing practices
Exercise relevant practical and administrative skills
Aspects of event management and production management will be explored. This may include such aspects as marketing, databases, budgets, liaison with agencies, licensing, risk assessment, audience management and other aspects of Health and Safety, along with scheduling and logistics.
Module Content
The structure and purpose of organisations involved in community theatre: community, voluntary, public and relevant departments under the umbrella of larger organisations.
Case studies in organisational structure of small to medium-sized arts organisations and departments:
Management structures, organisational roles, project roles
Involvement of administrative support through the life of a project
Relationship of artistic and production goals of a project
Placement of a company through its philosophy and organisational style
Databases, budgets and the use of Excel
Cultural policy development, its underlying assumptions and its influence on arts organisations
How projects are funded
Case studies of management in community arts organisations
Basic arts administration skills
CV preparation and presentation, interview and self-presentation skills applicable to:
An independent, freelance artist
A small-scale performing arts organisation
Community/Education departments within large organisations
In preparation for entry to their final professional preparation year, students will learn how to explore avenues to approaching companies who employ performers in the community theatre sector and recognise their transferable skills from non-theatrical employment.
Students will meet guest lecturers from organisations in the community theatre sector, initiating the establishment of networks with arts practitioners in Southend, London and the South East England region. Students will undertake research to identify opportunities for their final work placements and investigate organisations:
Philosophy
Style
Working practices
Level of activity in the community sector
Culture and management
Funding
Students may undertake initial observation visits to potential work placement providers
Event management will be explored in the context of the annual street theatre event. Students will undertake production roles, focusing on:
Liaison with agencies an licensing
Marketing and promotion
Liaison and engagement of the community
Risk assessment, audience management and other aspects of Health and Safety
Scheduling and logistics
The definition and functions of key role in production management
They will consider issues of scale, visibility, sightlines, audibility and accessibility in outdoor performance and explore approaches to capturing and sustaining the audiences' attention outdoors. Students will learn how to encourage and manage audience participation through the design of outdoor performance.
Module Aims
To introduce students to management of the voluntary and community arts sectors
To explore a range of arts organisational roles and processes
To reflect on the role of organisations in community theatre provision
To develop an understanding of the management of arts organisations in preparation for the placement with a company
To experince production management through the development and delivery of an event
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate ability to:
Understand the processes of a range of arts organisations
Understand the roles and responsibilities in production management
Critically analyses arts organisations' business and marketing practices
Exercise relevant practical and administrative skills
- Module Supervisor: Ainslie Masterton