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Laura Talbot

"The Arts Administration and Cultural Policy course not only exposed me to a wide variety of practical approaches to managing the arts but also opened my mind to diverse theoretical ideologies within the field."

Main details

Year graduated 2016
Country United States

"I received my Bachelors of Business Administration in 2009 with the aspiration of working in arts management. As often happens, life took a different path and I carved out a successful career in the hospitality industry for 6 years before deciding that it was time to follow my dreams of working in the arts. After living in New York for my entire life and having one of the most vibrant cultural cities on my doorstep, I decided that I wanted to broaden my artistic horizons and explore new ways of creating and thinking within the cultural sector. Undertaking my Master's course in London, another one of the world’s most artistically stimulating and forward-thinking cities was an obvious choice.

Studying at Goldsmiths was without a doubt one of the best decisions I have ever made. The Arts Administration and Cultural Policy course not only exposed me to a wide variety of practical approaches to managing the arts but also opened my mind to diverse theoretical ideologies within the field. My learning expanded far beyond the lecture hall with the city of London as an extension of the classroom and my fellow students from all different backgrounds as my further teachers.  

As I learned more about arts funding and the challenges and successes of different models throughout Europe and how they compared to what I knew of the United States, it fueled my drive to work in Development and truly be one of the individuals working to make the arts possible. As part of the course, I had the opportunity to intern in the Development Department of the Donmar Warehouse and the experience was invaluable in learning about the inner workings of a thriving theatre company with a large, dedicated supporter base. Since coming back to New York, I’ve started working as the Fundraising Manager at TADA! Youth Theater. As one of only two people in my department, I am able to work in all facets of fundraising including individual giving, institutional grants, corporate sponsorship, and event planning. Working with a youth theatre puts me in a unique position of helping to foster the next generation of artists and arts lovers, which makes me feel every day as though I’m making an impact."

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