A career in the arts is not just for the artists but also for the people who work behind the scenes to support the art industry. And to ensure the smooth running of an arts organization, the business should be coordinated by a qualified manager Arts management help involves helping artists such as photographers, graphic designers, painters, theater performers, and curators succeed. Working at this level calls for more than just passion and a business management degree. To help you ace an arts management job, here are some tips: 1. Aim To Bring Out the Best in Your Artists The guiding principle for every management-level position is to ensure that an organization or business grows. This means getting those around you to excel in their work. For example, it’s your job to ensure that a gallery has the right lighting for an exquisite display. 2. Follow Arts-Related Media The kind of literature you read or the news that you follow helps with shaping your views. As an arts manager, it helps to follow works that showcase the art industry. To this end, social media comes highly recommended. Social media platforms can introduce you to eye-opening channels from your competition. This is where you’ll learn what is trending and most importantly, what you can do to inspire your artists. Social media also helps you identify upcoming creatives that can revolutionize your organization. 3. Don’t Avoid Conflict Artists are known to be a little particular, which can lead to conflicts with co-workers. While unique personalities are celebrated in the arts world, it falls upon you to steer the interpersonal relationships of your organization. As such, you can’t afford to avoid conflicts and emotionally charged issues in the workplace. 4. Be Reachable and Decisive Arts management jobs call for excellent communication skills. This is paramount for any organization to run seamlessly. The idea is to ensure optimal performance through a two-way exchange of views. Remember that sitting on the fence won’t work and that it is decisiveness that shapes the direction of a company. Also, as a person in a decision-making position, those around you need access to you. Make use of email or phone to be available even when working remotely. 5. Be Adaptable and Flexible Arts management help requires a person who is open to doing things in new ways. As much as you are supposed to be decisive, you must leave room for ideas that could be a goldmine in the future. Expect such innovative ideas to come from low-level employees. These are the artists directly involved with the actual work. If you are rigid and not receptive to them, the next “big thing” could be sitting in your suggestion box or an unread email. To avoid this, make time for your employees and listen to their ideas. 6. Insist on Excellence Ultimately, the performance of a manager is based on the output of the people under their charge. As such, you have to set the best managerial standards and expect the same from your employees. The goal should be to set high goals that are carefully crafted to ensure attainability down the employment structure. Source: Arts Non Profit Search