ARTS MANAGEMENT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
Recent am@au events
Valerie Morris Prize Established
October 25, 2014
Alumni of the Arts Management Program have established the Valerie Morris Prize (via Sherburne's Red Pen Fundraiser), which will be awarded to an outstanding rising 2nd year student.
Nearly 50 gifts from alumni have exceeded $5000, with the Prize announced at the 40th Anniversary Celebration on October 25 at AU.
Keep the momentum going! Contribute to the fund here (type in "Valerie Morris Prize" in the "Other Designations" box).
Interview: Alex Emmerman
October 23, 2014
Second-year Rebekah Pineda (2015) talks to Alex about his PR and Marketing internship experience at the Smithsonian Institution's Freer | Sackler Galleries. Bringing his experience in the start-up world to the position, he inspired an Instagram campaign, learned how to navigate a large institution, and took full advantage of the learning opportunities.
"What made my internship great was that I didn't just focus on the day-to-day tasks. I knew what I wanted to get out of it. And that was being a part of the digital strategy that went into the gallery and the events. I needed to be assertive about what I wanted to achieve. I wanted to do events and to talk to Education about digital strategy. Working with start-ups for so long that I had so much social media and digital knowledge to share."
First Year Orientation
August 22, 2014
In a panel expertly moderated by Prof. Andrew Taylor, alumni Sunny Widmann (2011), Steven Dawson (2013), Rick Hammerly, Erin F. Mitchell (2014), Sarah Goffinet Durkee (2014) and JR Nexus Russ (2010) talked about what it means to be an arts manager in DC. Here are some insights, courtesy of Prof. Anne L'Ecuyer:
Free events are a great way to get the lay of the land - say no to nothing! Take advantage of pre- and post- events to meet people and join the conversation. Don't get stuck behind your computer with schoolwork, instead tie the events you attend to assignments and make it relevant to class discussion. Attend events that are unusual for you and look for things at the margins - do something new! Connect with alumni to get a behind-the-scenes tour. It's ok, we're all busy - you can help us get out of our own box. We're a big family - ask who else you should meet. Go out alone, pretend you're not shy. Whatever you do, just show up!
Alumni in the Rotunda featuring Josh Stoltzfus
April 8, 2014
Josh Stoltzfus (2006) is Director of Programming at Artisphere in Roslyn, VA.
Mr. Stoltzfus joins Artisphere from the Columbia Festival of the Arts in Columbia, MD, where he spent the last five years planning strategic partnerships and working with the team on selection of artists, programcontent and budgeting for an annual sixteen day multidisciplinary arts festival. He previously worked with the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts and spent a graduate fellowship with the Cyrus & Myrtle Katzen Arts Center and Harold & Sylvia Greenberg Theatre at American University. Stoltzfus also brings experience as an artist representative, tour manager and more than two decades’ experience as a musical performer.
Alumni in the Rotunda featuring Steven Dawson
March 4, 2014
Steven Dawson started in the arts as an actor. Between 2004 and 2011, he worked professionally for numerous theatre companies across the nation, including the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, and Southeast. Before that, he received his BA in Communications with a vocal performance minor from Brewton-Parker College in Mt. Vernon, Georgia.
In 2011, Steven began his work at American University in Washington, DC, and received his Master’s in Arts Management two years later.
Currently, he is the Marketing Manager at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, DC. His work there includes market research, advertising, and design management.
Alumni in the Rotunda featuring Stephen Estrada
February 11, 2014
Stephen Estrada (1999) is an oil painter.
Mr. Estrada also has past experience as a Director, Curator, and Designer at:
US Diplomacy Center, National Air and Space Museum, National Archives and the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
Alumni in the Rotunda featuring Jennifer Schommer
December 3, 2013
Jennifer Schommer (2000) is Assistant Director of Public Relations for Traveling Exhibition Services at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
This was the inaugural Alumni in the Rotunda, an event featuring casual conversations with an AU Arts Management alumnus or alumna regarding current trends in the arts management field, career advice, internship suggestions, interview tips, etc.
The small informal gatherings (4-6 people at a time) allow alumni and current students to connect and learn from one another.