For artists across disciplines, a year confronting COVID-19 illuminated a pressing need to develop and maintain new skills. Suddenly remote interactions, changing performance & exhibition schedules, virtual formats, and increased need for broad coordination were the norm. Both students, and arts alumni alike, found themselves trying to shape-shift to maintain creative momentum.
The Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) regularly surveys arts alumni nationwide to learn how graduates are using their education, and what skills prove most essential in the workforce. Since 2008, SNAAP has collected and analyzed data from over 200,000 arts alums.
A recent SNAAP report looked specifically at how COVID-19 impacted the needed skills of arts graduates. Comparing past surveys with interviews specific to the pandemic, researchers found that arts alumni continued to rely on financial and business management, entrepreneurial, and networking skills, a trend well-established in past SNAAP research.
But new needs also became apparent: technological skills and collaboration.
The ArtsForce program at the University of Utah, consistently ahead of the game in anticipating the professional needs of students, was already serving these needs before the data was released.
The SNAAP DataBrief read: “…two broad categories of skill emerged as increasingly relevant compared to pre-pandemic artistic work: technological skills and skills related to interpersonal relationships and working collaboratively…Technological skills were already a requisite for arts alumni. However, this was magnified during the pandemic, with technology mediating interpersonal interactions, work, and making or performing art to a degree not previously experienced.”
It went on to say, “Arts graduates reported that interpersonal relationships and working collaboratively were in high demand during the pandemic.” SNAAP further concluded that “those who developed stronger skills in this area were able to better adjust to the lack of informal, in-person moments for interaction, idea generation, and collaboration that happen more naturally when people are in the same physical space.”
Since its inception in 2013, ArtsForce interns discover and learn to articulate the value of their degree, as well as help connect fellow students to helpful campus resources. Through the program, students are able to not only connect with a broader professional network, but form meaningful connections with their teammates. In any given year, it is worthwhile work that bolsters coursework inside the classroom.
But in a COVID year where isolation was at an all-time high, the program proved invaluable.
ArtsForce intern Cassandra Webb said, "I'm very glad that I got accepted into the ArtsForce internship during 2020. It gave me a reason to reach out to people and continue learning when the pandemic was making that nearly impossible otherwise.”
Here are the ways ArtsForce pivoted last year, making use of available technology and putting collaboration at the center of their work:
- Networking on Instagram Live
In place of an in-person annual networking event, ArtsForce took the innovative route of interviewing CFA alumni and current students on Instagram Live. Over the course of several days, student followers learned about artists from their community, and expanded their networks using social media. The event also gave ArtsForce interns live interviewing experience, as well as experience producing virtual events specifically for social platforms. - Informational Interviewing through video
Where students might often ask professionals for in-person meetups to conduct informational interviews in order learn more about various potential career paths, COVID-19 made these opportunities tricky. ArtsForce asked professionals to meet over Zoom instead, and kept the momentum going on virtual interviews that proved valuable for students and connected them to the community at large. - Bringing alumni into the picture
Throughout the year, ArtsForce collaborated and connected with CFA alumni. Working with the Fine Arts Ambassadors, ArtsForce helped host a series of professional development panels that were open to all students from across disciplines. Interns also attended quarterly meetings of the young board, to promote their events, seek guidance, and develop relationships with alums. - Making the most of Zoom
Though most of ArtsForce’s work had to take place virtually, the group worked to make the most of the Zoom platform to develop authentic relationships with one another. They began each meeting with an ice breaker question before jumping into business, and used breakout rooms to work in smaller groups.