In an unexpected moment one evening, my mentor and former boss Leslie Donaldson turned to me and coached me professionally. She essentially asked, “What are you doing now, and what would you like to be doing?” I was taken aback. At the time I had been managing a series of professional development opportunities for artists and arts administrators, yet I hadn’t examined my own career goals. After a long pause and great effort, I mustered up the courage to divulge my professional aspirations.
I shared an expansive vision for my artwork. I also revealed my simultaneous aspiration and dread for public speaking. Finally, I described an unsettling feeling that had periodically tugged at the edges of my consciousness since earning my undergraduate degree nearly fifteen years prior. I wanted to return to academia.
To explain my hesitation, I was not yet prepared to become a nontraditional learner. At that point I had already enjoyed professional success in a variety of ways. I had worked in galleries, schools, and historic arts organizations. I had designed and taug ht curriculum, along with managing and creating arts programs. While I was dedicated to exhaustion as a program manager at the time, I was also relatively comfortable in my role.
At this point in my story, I envision a childhood poster that my mom had on her dresser mirror. It read: “Life is what happens when you are making other plans.” Within months of my discussion of dreams with Leslie, she had accepted a prestigious leadership role hours away, and I began to question whether I had the innovation to lead a team or the perseverance to publicly represent an arts organization.
Over the course of the few months that followed, I was terrified and exhilarated to assume a temporary leadership role. I facilitated a national advocacy convening related to the categorical elimination of arts and other specialists in the Lansing School District. I wrote successful grants, developed budgets, and began advocating for the arts publicly. By the time new leadership arrived on the scene, I developed a clearer understanding of my own vision. I knew that quality and merit in arts and cultural programming was non-negotiable from my standpoint. I also knew I needed to make a change.
During the two-and-a-half years since I made the decision to make that change, my return to academia has offered me a trajectory of unprecedented professional growth. Almost immediately upon enrolling, I also accepted the position of Executive Director at Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center. On a daily basis, my education truly informs my practice, serving as a source of inspiration, growth, and pride. I am locally empowering culture, and I am also a part of a larger collective of arts advocates and academic researchers.
For example, I recently presented findings related to the Gap Analysis, a fellowship with Americans for the Arts, in which I conducted interviews related to arts education in all 50 states and D.C. This study of policy and practice will help states understand trends and influences to effectively improve the quality of education for all youth. This was made possible due to my role as a graduate student at U of M – Flint.
I realize now the importance of examining my career and choosing my creative path. I believe that opportunities have come to me as I was ready for them. Here’s the key: Leslie allowed me to dream bigger. Once I was empowered to dream, I grew exponentially in my role as an artist, an academic, and an arts administrator. Believing in oneself and one’s work is a powerful tool.
Earning my graduate degree will not only legitimize my practice; it has solidified the foundation for my leadership style. With this academic scaffolding, I can embrace my passion for the arts as a highly-skilled and knowledgeable professional. I have learned to use inspiration as the fuel for my work and dreams as the catalyst for next steps.
Barb Whitney is Executive Director of the Lansing Art Gallery and a UM-Flint Arts Administration student. Read more about Barb & the Lansing Art Gallery by clicking on the photo