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Sit Back & Enjoy the Ride: The Roller Coaster Career Plan

October 22, 2015 by Jessica Ferey 1 Comment

CC Patrick McGarvey via Flickr

CC Patrick McGarvey via Flickr

When I was younger, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up: Theatre Director. But after a few years in that world, I didn’t feel like it was a good fit anymore.

So I dabbled. I transferred colleges. I changed my major four times. And I finally settled with art history. This led to working in a museum for a few years following graduation. I felt a bit more confident about my career plan at this point. I wanted to work in the administrative side of museums, leading a team towards a shared vision. I also understood that I couldn’t do this on my own, I needed a better understanding of this side of the art world. So, I went to graduate school, receiving a degree in Arts Management.

I entered the program with a very clear idea of what I wanted to do. Yet, over the next two years of learning, expanding my perspectives and meeting new people with wide-ranging expertise, I realized that my career trajectory doesn’t have to follow the straight path I always imagined. I’m now all about the roller coaster career plan!

I’ve realized that there is so much more to learn, that you have to be flexible and ready for the next big turn, drop or vertical loop! The best way to do this is by surrounding myself with people who are knowledgeable in a variety of areas, not necessarily in my specific field. It’s about connecting with others and sharing what we know. This is what I get to do now, through my work with the Global Cultural Districts Network. I’m learning from leaders of world-renowned arts institutions, urban planners, interactive digital artists, consultants, cultural district managers and many more.

I’m very happy with the roller coaster career plan. Every turn is a new adventure!
 
 
Tweet:Surround yourself w/knowledgable people in many disciplines. Connect & Share. %23ArtsCareers according to @WhereTheArtAt via @ArtStrategies http://bit.ly/1GgDueR
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Filed Under: Conversation, Stories from the field Tagged With: career paths, career planning

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  1. gclub says

    May 31, 2016 at 5:09 am

    Storms don’t last forever Bear. The rain is leaving.

    Reply

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About the author

Jessica Ferey

Jessica Ferey
Jessica Ferey is Deputy Director of the Global Cultural Districts Network, a federation of global centers of arts and culture that fosters co-operation and knowledge-sharing among those responsible for conceiving, funding, building, and operating cultural facilities and/or clusters with a significant cultural element. Jessica also works on international arts collaboration projects with the Quartier des Spectacles of Montreal, a founding member of the GCDN. Jessica received her M.A. in Arts Management at American University where her research focused on the gender gap in arts leadership. She is founder of equalarty, a web-based resource created to inspire and empower women arts leaders of tomorrow (www.equalarty.com). Prior to her graduate studies, Jessica worked at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts as administrative assistant to the director. She received a B.A. in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University with a special focus on ancient Egyptian art. In 2004, Jessica ... 
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