Searching for a video to show my Career Development students during tomorrow's first day of class I came across John Kraft Hearts in SF Project V artist's video.
So fantastic to see this project continues as an inspiration for artists, audiences and the SF General Hospital Foundation.
Showing posts with label career development for artists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label career development for artists. Show all posts
July 15, 2010
January 30, 2010
On a Mission
Amazing how much freedom I now feel with four wheels! Suddenly the whole State of California is open to me again. After watching the final episodes of Sons of Anarchy season 2 I have the travel bug. The show takes place in NorCal (Northern California) and much of the beautiful, varied landscape is featured in the scenes. Well, I don't ride a motorcycle but I do have the freedom to drive to these breath-taking vistas.
A travel photography idea I've had for at least fifteen years has been to travel to the California Missions. There are 21 in total and each is unique. This year, my photography goal is to travel to all 21 of the missions and document my journeys both in words in images.
My fantastic Career Development students are further inspiring me to pursue my photography dream. This semester I have three guys in the film/photography major and seeing their work has encouraged me to do more of my own. The class is spectacular - everyone is a unique character and each is living their artistic dreams. Now that this is the Year of Living Your Dreams I am going to do the same.
Stay tuned for my adventures over the next 12 months. I may even begin with the San Francisco Mission, one I have never visited. My favorite is Mission Nuesetro Senora de la Soledad. Certainly each will provide me with surprises.
This map is from the California Missions website.
A travel photography idea I've had for at least fifteen years has been to travel to the California Missions. There are 21 in total and each is unique. This year, my photography goal is to travel to all 21 of the missions and document my journeys both in words in images.
My fantastic Career Development students are further inspiring me to pursue my photography dream. This semester I have three guys in the film/photography major and seeing their work has encouraged me to do more of my own. The class is spectacular - everyone is a unique character and each is living their artistic dreams. Now that this is the Year of Living Your Dreams I am going to do the same.Stay tuned for my adventures over the next 12 months. I may even begin with the San Francisco Mission, one I have never visited. My favorite is Mission Nuesetro Senora de la Soledad. Certainly each will provide me with surprises.
This map is from the California Missions website.
December 12, 2009
Expertise in the Room
My first semester class as an instructor at the Art Institute of California - San Francisco, ends next week and I'm getting a bit nostalgic already for my students. We've been on a career development journey together and their growth is so impressive. Hopefully, my teaching style has evolved as well. This school is so supportive of instructors, offering us excellent feedback and continuous access to professional development training. I'm recognizing that I love teaching, facilitating and coaching. This is the direction in which I am evolving my career. All the ingredients are already there - now to continue developing my skills, network and reputation.
This week I met with a woman who has just quit her job and is starting a non-profit. I used our meeting as an opportunity to blend coaching with my advising. Instead of me professing all the ideas, answers, next steps, I asked her where she sees herself. She has all the answers. This is how I approach strategic planning with arts organizations and I am now applying it to individuals as well.
In next semester's Art Institute career development class I am will emphasize the expertise already in the room - my role is to be a coach and guide to help each student articulate their goals, identify their next steps, increase their skills and tools (resume, pitch, portfolio) and let them get on their way. So much more powerful when the answers come from them.
This week I met with a woman who has just quit her job and is starting a non-profit. I used our meeting as an opportunity to blend coaching with my advising. Instead of me professing all the ideas, answers, next steps, I asked her where she sees herself. She has all the answers. This is how I approach strategic planning with arts organizations and I am now applying it to individuals as well.
In next semester's Art Institute career development class I am will emphasize the expertise already in the room - my role is to be a coach and guide to help each student articulate their goals, identify their next steps, increase their skills and tools (resume, pitch, portfolio) and let them get on their way. So much more powerful when the answers come from them.
December 7, 2009
Climate Change Call to Action
My friends Martin and Juhi are in Copenhagen at the COP15 Climate Change Conference running a parallel conference call CultureFutures. I'm there in spirit and in blogging.
November 21, 2009
The Hook
Yesterday, while teaching my Career Development course at the Art Institute of California my students and I came up with the concept of The Hook. It derived from the exercise where each student had 60 seconds to answer the question, "so, tell me about yourself". This would typically be your elevator pitch or speech. But at the heart of it there needs to be a Hook.
As one of my students wrote on the board, THE HOOK, is your unique selling point framed in a story that is engaging and easy to remember - both for you and your "audience". Ideally it has a beginning, middle and end. It demonstrates your core competencies beyond, "I am a team player" and all the other typical cliches that spew forth from us when we are on the job search or prospecting clients.
After each student got up in front of the class to do their 60 seconds, the rest of the class helped them define their Hook. Some didn't have one and so we kept probing until we got to something that made them memorable and unique. Helping a student translate how their gas station experience has prepared them for a job in interior decorating takes some clever thinking. My students are becoming pros at helping each other find the connection, the transition, the Hook.
I suppose that this links directly to defining moments. Framing a defining moment as a unique selling point in your professional career is a great way to connect with your audience. we also realized, if all else fails try humor.
As one of my students wrote on the board, THE HOOK, is your unique selling point framed in a story that is engaging and easy to remember - both for you and your "audience". Ideally it has a beginning, middle and end. It demonstrates your core competencies beyond, "I am a team player" and all the other typical cliches that spew forth from us when we are on the job search or prospecting clients.
After each student got up in front of the class to do their 60 seconds, the rest of the class helped them define their Hook. Some didn't have one and so we kept probing until we got to something that made them memorable and unique. Helping a student translate how their gas station experience has prepared them for a job in interior decorating takes some clever thinking. My students are becoming pros at helping each other find the connection, the transition, the Hook.
I suppose that this links directly to defining moments. Framing a defining moment as a unique selling point in your professional career is a great way to connect with your audience. we also realized, if all else fails try humor.
October 17, 2009
First Day of Class
Friday was my first day teaching the Career Development course at the Art Institute of California. The students are amazing. Totally inspirational to meet these emerging artists who are pursuing fantastic careers and have so much talent. Students in my class are pursuing degrees in Interior Design, Game Design, Computer Animation... how cool does that sound?
They are like sponges and really pay attention to what I'm saying, at least in this first class. Hopefully I can keep their attention for the whole semester. They certainly have mine.
They are like sponges and really pay attention to what I'm saying, at least in this first class. Hopefully I can keep their attention for the whole semester. They certainly have mine.
October 15, 2009
Back to the Classroom
Tomorrow I start teaching a career development course at the Art Institute of California. Ever since teaching Arts Administration at the University of Houston Downtown in 2006 I have wanted to get back into the classroom as an instructor. Amazing, as I've reached yet another one of my goals.
The course actually started last week but I was hired so close to the start time that I had to wait until this week to go through all the vetting, training and then be ready for teaching. Students are arts career professionals heading out (or back out) into the workforce. I'll be getting them ready.
The course actually started last week but I was hired so close to the start time that I had to wait until this week to go through all the vetting, training and then be ready for teaching. Students are arts career professionals heading out (or back out) into the workforce. I'll be getting them ready.
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