PERFORMING ARTS ADMINISTRATION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

(Updated July 17, 2009)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Emerson College's Performing Arts Administration Program offers academically challenging courses ranging from marketing and fundraising to performance programming and financial management. All courses are designed to help program participants meet the challenges faced by today's arts administrator. Participants who successfully complete the three required core courses, the capstone course, and two electives from the performing arts administration non-credit series will earn the Performing Arts Administration Certificate.

WHO SHOULD ENROLL

The Performing Arts Administration Program is available to managers of performing arts- and nonprofit-cultural organizations, as well as to individuals who would like to gain theoretical and practical skills for sound management in such institutions. Participants may enroll in one or several multi-session courses to match his or her personal objectives.** The certificate, however, will be awarded only to participants who successfully complete all components of the Performing Arts Administration Certificate Program.

**Note: Participants must hold a minimum of a high school diploma or GED to enroll in courses and programs offered by the Department of Professional Studies & Special Programs.

INSTRUCTORS:

Sara S. Glidden, Michael Ibrahim, Dana Knox, Anita M. Lauricella, M. Bevin O'Gara, Jeffrey J. Poulos

CORE COURSES

Performing Arts Administration Course Schedule (PDF)

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

Professional Studies participants may choose to work towards a Performing Arts Administration Certificate. The following guidelines apply to all non-credit, non-degree certificate individuals at Emerson College:

• Individuals must satisfy the certificate program requirements published for the term in which they register for the first course toward the certificate.
• All individuals must complete coursework for a certificate program within a period of three years from his or her initial date of registration.
• Only learning activities offered by Emerson College’s Department of Professional Studies & Special Programs may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a certificate program.
• Enrollment in non-credit, non-degree certificate programs is open to all individuals who have a high school diploma or GED. Prerequisite requirements apply in some instances. To receive a certificate, individuals must submit a “Request for Certificate” form to the Department of Professional Studies & Special Programs within one year of program completion. Request for Certificate Form (PDF)
  

PERFORMING ARTS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM TUITION & PAYMENTS

Tuition is due upon registration for all Performing Arts Administration Program courses and workshops offered through the Department of Professional Studies and Special Programs. Tuition is calculated per course and individuals must pay tuition in full prior to participating in the courses of their choice.

Participants may incur additional course-related expenses. Such additional expenses are separate from tuition costs and payments.

Emerson College reserves the right to change any provision of its programs and courses at any time. The College specifically reserves the right to change its tuition rates and any other financial charges. The College also reserves the right to rearrange its courses and class hours, to drop courses for which registration falls below the minimum enrollment, and to change instructor assignments.

INSTRUCTORS

Sara S. Glidden, instructor of Performing Arts Administration and Operation

Sara Glidden is the managing director of the Lyric Stage Company of Boston. She has professional arts administrative-management and marketing experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. She spent 10 years at Emerson College where she taught arts administration and was general manager and director of marketing for Emerson Stage. At Emerson College, she played a leadership role in developing community outreach programs and non-traditional community-based collaborations and educational programs. Sara has worked with several Boston-area theaters and is active as a board member of The Spectrum Singers, with whom she also performs. As program manager for the State Transportation Building, for which she was curator and managed public arts programs, she received a Commonwealth of Massachusetts Citation for Excellence in Public Service in 1990. Sara is currently participating in Achieving Excellence, an executive leadership program at the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Michael Ibrahim, CFRE, instructor of Fundraising for Performing Arts Organizations; Performing Arts Capstone Project

Michael Ibrahim is the development director at the All Newton Music School. Michael plans and implements all fundraising initiatives, including the annual fund, special events, major gifts, planned giving, grant writing and prospect cultivation. Prior to joining the All Newton Music School, Michael held management positions at Stoneham Theatre, Barrington Stage Company and the Lexington Philharmonic. He holds a B.A. in Arts Management from the University of Kentucky, an M.S. in Arts Administration from Boston University, and a Certificate in Fundraising Management from Boston University. Michael is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE), and is the online fundraising chair for the American Cancer Society.

Dana Knox, instructor of Managing Performing Arts Audiences and Venues

Dana Knox is the production coordinator for College Theatre at Harvard University where he oversees the New College Theatre and Agassiz Theatre. He also advises Drama in the Houses, where he is involved in more than 40 student productions a year. He is resident house manager for the Colonial Theatre and is on the house management staff at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. Dana's producer credits include A View From the Bridge, Oh Dad, Poor Dad ..., Beckett at 100, and Legally Blond the Musical Comes to Harvard. Mr. Knox previously served as the first assistant theater manager for the recently restored Opera House in Boston, where he worked on Disney's The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Dora the Explorer Live, Hairspray, Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays, and Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker. He also worked on concerts for the White Stripes, Lucinda Williams, Celtic Women and Sigure Ros. Dana has worked in the Operations Department for Broadway in Boston/Clear Channel Entertainment and at Boston Theatre Works. Mr. Knox has an M.F.A. in production management from Boston University School of Theatre.

Anita M. Lauricella, Instructor of Financial Management for Performing Arts Organizations

Anita M. Lauricella is committed to applying strategic thinking and analytical methods to community nonprofit organizations. Since 2001 she has headed her own consulting firm. Previously Anita served as the director of business development and planning for the New England Foundation for the Arts, and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the $5.5 million foundation. During her five years at the foundation, Anita reorganized its financial and technical systems and initiated an investment strategy to combine traditional and socially responsible investment goals. Anita also has more than 10 years experience in the public sector, and has developed policy initiatives for state and local government, covering financial management and fiscal policy. Anita has served on several boards for nonprofit organizations, including chairing the board of Women Express/Teen Voices, and serving on the boards of the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. She is currently clerk for Jose Mateo's Ballet Theatre.

M. Bevin O'Gara, instructor of Producing and Planning an Artistic Season

M. Bevin O'Gara is the artistic associate at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, Massachusetts, where she assists with the production of their season, co-produces the Breaking Ground Reading Series, and acts as the company's casting director for local talent. Previously Bevin worked at the New Repertory Theatre as the Artistic Associate. She has worked with the Boston Playwright Theatre, Actors Centre of Australia, Commonwealth Shakespeare, Dublin's Gaiety School of Acting, and at the Williamstown Theatre Festival as a directing intern. Bevin is one of the founding directors of 3 monkey's Theatrical Productions, and is a freelance director. Ms. O'Gara earned a B.F.A. in Theatre Studies at Boston University.

Jeffrey J. Poulos, instructor of Institutional Development and Leadership

Jeffrey J. Poulos has been executive director of StageSource, The Greater Boston Theatre Alliance, since November 2000. At StageSource he has spearheaded such initiatives as the launch of a biennial Boston theatre conference, low-cost health insurance for freelance and self-employed theatre artists, a theatre arts marketing alliance, theatre community benevolent fund, and a regional job expo. He currently serves as chair of the Arts Services Coalition of Boston and as a Massachusetts Cultural Council Advisor Corps member. Mr. Poulos worked at the Huntington Theatre Company for 11 years and as general manager at the New Repertory Theatre. He has served on the board of Massachusetts Advocates for Culture Advisory Committee, on the Watertown Cultural Council, as board member for Watertown's Arsenal Center for the Arts, and as a panelist for events including the Massachusetts Cultural Council Leadership Conference 2005, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance's At Your Service Conference, and the Roxbury Film Festival. Mr. Poulos was selected in 2007 as one of 56 arts leaders to attend the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leadership Arts at Standford University. He holds a B.A. in Theatre from Ithaca College.

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