1) My STEP signature project involved working with Columbus Children’s Theatre as an arts administration intern and as a member of run crew for their School of Rock production. While in the office, I worked with each department of CCT to complete their daily administrative tasks such as receipt reconciliation, creating marketing material, and attending season planning meetings. As a run crew member, I assisted with audio technology and shifting set pieces during the show.
2) While completing this STEP signature project, I experienced a change in my perception of the arts and their importance. The arts provide the basic human need to express our inner emotions and share stories. They also create spaces where vulnerability and community support are the norm. I experienced this support while working on run crew in a way that I had not in the past. I saw the way that participating in the arts had allowed those around me to thrive and find community – and in some cases, this was a life-saving experience. This led to the realization of the arts being an essential part of the cultural ecosystem and has expanded the way I view art. I no longer think of art as something to experience passively as a nice reward for working hard in other ways. Art is something to participate in actively and inherently; giving as much value to the production of art as one would to any other field of work.
I also experienced a change in my perception of myself and how I can contribute to society. I have often felt that my desire to work in the arts should be pursued as a hobby and that to have a meaningful life, I would need to work in a more traditionally accepted field like medicine or education. After this internship, I have a better understanding of what it means to have a “meaningful” life and the many ways in which the arts do contribute to the well-being of a community. My desire to work in these spaces is valuable as a career and I can be confident that I will be helping the world be a better place by doing so.
3) Columbus Children’s Theatre works as a combination of a professional theatre company and an educational company. Part of my internship involved working with their summer camp and educational director to help prepare each day. I got to see firsthand the soft skills that participating in theatre teaches young children. It was amazing to see how much confidence and self-assurance these kids developed in just one week. They learned problem-solving, practiced creativity, and became more confident in public speaking and performing. These are all valuable skill sets both within and outside of the arts. Seeing this growth in just a short time contributed to my realization that the arts are essential to creating a healthy cultural environment and can benefit sectors and industries that might be unexpected.
Another component of my internship with Columbus Children’s Theatre involved working on a run crew for their production of School of Rock. During this time I experienced a lot of growth in my confidence. I was asked to work as the audio assistant and was given responsibility for the microphone technology. This was a big sign of others’ confidence in me and reminded me of the technical expertise that is needed to work in the theatre industry. It reassured me that there is real knowledge and skillsets behind working in the arts. This realization has helped me put more value in my work.
A relationship I developed during this internship is with the artistic director of Columbus Children’s Theatre. I spoke extensively with him about the future of the company and how they are working to expand their impact on the community. In our discussions, I learned how much careful planning and thought goes into the running of an arts company. I was challenged to think about the meaning of being a “professional” theatre and how we can carry that commitment to excellence into every part of the company. These discussions expanded my understanding of arts administration and again reinforced my new value in the arts as a career.
4) The transformation in my valuation of the arts I have described above is significant because it has given me the courage to pursue a career in the arts. I was concerned before this internship about the value of working in the arts and its ability to give me a fulfilling and challenging experience. Now that I see the arts in this new light, I feel more inspired to learn more and gain the technical skillsets needed to work professionally in the arts. I also feel more confident that my work in the arts will be personally and culturally significant. I believe that the arts improve people’s quality of life and that working in the arts will feel fulfilling.