The ‘art’ of volunteering
By Audrey Yeager
Some students are passionate about sports, some travel and some spend time volunteering. This past semester, Westminster’s arts administration majors reached out to the arts community. These students volunteered at a range of organizations to build their résumés and gain further understanding of what it takes to be a successful arts manager.
In October, 10 arts administration majors and minors assisted at a conference held at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, N.J. The program, Creative Resource Sharing During the Recession, was sponsored by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Arts administrators were able to participate in a collaborative brainstorming process with several representatives from arts organizations in the tri-state area.
Three students — junior Paul Vacchiano, sophomore Blair Miller and freshman Jasmine Adams — volunteered at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) in New York City from Jan. 8 to 12. APAP is an annual performing arts conference that brings together presenters, theaters and performing artists in a capacity that allows for limitless networking opportunities. Volunteering turned out to be a positive experience for everyone involved.
“I was dressed for success, and out of all of the volunteers from different universities, I was chosen to escort the CEO of APAP, Sandra Gibson, around during a video shoot at the convention,” Vacchiano said.
Both Vacchiano and Adams met Steve Love of Love Productions and were offered internships. Adams took up Love’s offer and has begun the internship.
“I feel extremely blessed,” Adams said. “I had a great time volunteering, and I got so much out of the experience. The internship offer was icing on the cake.”
Miller is thrilled to have received an offer to intern at Columbia Artists Management Inc. and looks forward to working there in the future.
Freshman Louise Mayer began her volunteer work at the Growing Stage in Netcong, N.J., helping run the auditions for the play Lyle the Crocodile.
“My job was to greet the actors and actresses at the door and file their headshots and audition information,” Mayer said. “Afterwards, I got to watch the auditions take place. It was interesting to watch the audition process.”
Other arts management majors volunteered during the fall semester. Freshman Eric Taylor worked with the American Repertory Ballet in Princeton while it prepared for its production of The Nutcracker.
Vacchiano is excited to have been asked by Tom Shinn to work with him on his night show on the popular radio station 94.5 PST. The students are eager to continue their work in the arts community this spring.
