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IT'S YOUR CAREER

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

It's Your Career

Be an . . .

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

What is an artistic director?

An artistic director coordinates all aspects of the presentation of a dramatic production.

Description

An artistic director's work involves:

  • coordinating all the people involved in the production
  • overseeing all aspects of staging, such as costumes, props, and music, to create a cohesive performance
  • reporting to sponsoring group or Board of Directors

The work can encompass any or all of the following:

  • making arrangements for where and when productions will be presented
  • involvement in the development of the drama's content
  • consulting with the director
  • choosing the show and/or script
  • budgeting
  • hiring producers, directors, and sometimes the cast

Education/Training

  • High school English, drama, media, or other arts courses
  • Community college diploma in performing or theatre arts

OR

  • University Fine Arts Degree in drama

Skills

  • creativity
  • stamina
  • organization
  • able to visualize the finished production while focusing on detail
  • flexibility
  • able to inspire and encourage others

Think about:

What can an artistic director do in Angola?
(For information about how street theatre was used in Angola, go to From Bullets to Buckets.)

What qualities or interests do you have that would be useful in a career as an artistic director?

International Connections:

For all careers there are international opportunities that people can pursue. Some careers offer short-term international connections of a few months or years; others present possibilities to span an entire career:

  • co-ordinating world tours for drama or musical productions
  • working with entertainment companies that produce film, video, or music on location internationally