22 November 2019
Some of our most successful arts entrepreneurs and leaders will take time out on November 25th to celebrate their academic “roots” when the University of South Australia marks the 40th anniversary of its globally renowned Arts and Cultural Management postgraduate program.
Students, staff and graduates of the program will celebrate the milestone and hear from keynote speaker, Ann Tonks, Interim Executive Director of Australian Dance Theatre.
Tonks will share her rich career experiences as former CEO of the Melbourne Theatre Company and now Interim Executive Director of Australian Dance Theatre and how her education prepared her for the challenges and opportunities of a career in arts management.
The longest running study program focussed on arts and cultural management in Australasia, the UniSA degree is now offered in partnership with the Adelaide Festival Centre, adding an invaluable industry linked component to the highly successful program.
Program Director for the Master of Management (Arts and Cultural Management) Professor Ruth Rentschler says the program was conceived in the 1970s when then Premier, Don Dunstan, led a revitalisation of the arts in South Australia.
“So much has changed in those 40 years, but this program is still a leader in the field, graduates still tell me, ‘it was such a fantastic course - I learnt so much’," she says.
Prof Rentschler says in recent years the average profile of an arts manager has changed.
“There are more women and more people from diverse cultural backgrounds coming into the program, and I see that in the classroom, where half of the students come from places like Brazil, China, Vietnam, Portugal, Germany – so we know the program has global relevance,” she says.
“We have also deepened our engagement with arts organisations so that our students have the chance to gain real-life experience by completing internships with major Adelaide arts organisations, and sharpen their skills in and knowledge about broader aspects of the industry such as arts philanthropy, event and festival management, arts leadership and governance, contemporary arts and cultural contexts, and finance and law.”
She says graduates of the program are now working in myriad roles in the Arts sector - festival administrators, marketing and promotions coordinators, fund and friend raising, arts policy, festival directors, CEOs and board members.
“I’ve seen graduates from this degree go on to work in the major Beijing performing arts centre and have key positions there, to working in arts and tourism policy in Vietnam – clearly their studies have global resonance and equip them to rise to senior leadership roles where they can play a significant part in directing the development of the arts,” Prof Rentschler says.
“Through the program, UniSA has played an influential role in the sector and will continue to nurture arts leaders to be the best they can be – professionally and creatively.
“And as we celebrate our 40th year – that is something to be proud of.”
The anniversary celebrations will be held at the Samstag Museum of Art, Hawke Building, North Terrace, Adelaide on Monday, November 25 from 5.00pm - 7.00pm.
News and picture editors please note: News photographers and arts journalists are welcome at the event.
Media spokesperson: Prof Ruth Rentschler, OAM, UniSA Program Director for Master of Management (Arts and Cultural Management).
Tel:08 8302 4195 or 0407 461 287 email: ruth.rentschler@unisa.edu.au
UniSA Media contact: Michèle Nardelli Tel: +61 418 823 673 or +61 8 8302 0966 email: michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au
Event contact: Sophie Comber, Project Officer for publicity of this 40th anniversary event, and current student of the program comsi001@mymail.unisa.edu.au
