— Please check this site often throughout the semester, as the schedule will change. —
Syllabus | Spring 2015
Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Location N181
Instructor: Nita Sturiale
Email: nsturiale at massart dot edu
Office hours: by apt.
Many of the course materials, important schedule changes, and appropriate links are online via the following course URL http://blogs.massart.edu/epp
Course Description:
This is the spring segment of a year-long course designed for those that are actively involved in organizing and producing events and exhibitions throughout the year. It is required for Eventworks Producers and Godine Family Gallery Managers. It is also open to any student that is actively producing events and would like support writing proposals, timelines, budgets, and preparing documentation. Students will meet with the instructor one on one throughout the semester; additionally the class will meet periodically as a group to discuss general production issues. Registration by permission of instructor only.
Course Objectives and Learning Goals:
The goals of this course are: to provide an opportunity to earn college credit for work involved with producing events outside the school academic structure; to learn the skills necessary to write a project proposal, realistic timelines, budgets and financial records; to practice interacting with the necessary support staff needed to produce events; to provide students practice in articulating their intentions, questions and artistic goals; and to suggest resources for researching solutions and answers after leaving school. Additionally the course reflects the following learning goals set by the SIM department:
- Acquire the ability to think conceptually across many disciplines.
- Acquire the ability to collaborate.
- Learn how to articulate artistic goals and concepts and translate them into actualized projects.
- Practice self-study in the skills or topics that the student requires to meet their project goals.
- Acquire the ability to respond creatively when the parameters in a given project change.
- Practice speaking and presenting to the public.
- Acquire hands-on skills in audio/visual technology, curatorial practice, community building, and interdisciplinary practice.
- Work towards a high level of self-motivation, educational agency, and self-imposed standards.
Course Requirements:
• Attendance! Since we only meet a few times as a class or one on one, your attendance is essential, it is your responsibility to remember, and to keep, your appointment with the faculty.
• Participate in class discussion and critiques,
• Listen to and support your colleagues,
• When applicable, read the readings and be prepared to discuss them in class,
• Complete all assignments (see below) by the due date – if you can’t make the due date, discuss an extension with the faculty BEFORE THE DUE DATE! A final grade of INC is not automatic just because you haven’t finished your work – you may request it with good reasons and with two weeks notice before the last class.
Evaluation and Assessment:
In addition to the above stated requirements in order to earn 3 academic credits for this course, you are evaluated in many other ways – during advising sessions with faculty, by your colleagues and faculty during critique, the success of your projects both backstage and in front of the audience, by your actions and deeds. You will know you are doing well when you receive honest criticism, are willing to try new things and take risks, gain community support based on your reputation as a reliable and skilled collaborator, receive invitations to share your work, and requests for your advice and mentorship. See below for information on the grading system used for this course.
Assignments (spring semester)
DUE JAN 29 – Spring Agreement – Prepare and sign an agreement with me that will be used to assess your progress throughout the course. The required components of this contract include:
- A brief description of your Event(s)/Project;
- A timeline (focus should be on spring semester);
- A contact list of your production team (including yourself);
- A contact list of your advisory team;
- your signature;
- A list of activities you will engage in throughout the semester. The completion of your events, the 2 apts, financial statements, and project portfolio/catalog should be among the activities listed. However, you may add other activities and goals specific to your situation – for example, “I want to practice and improve how I communicate my ideas to potential collaborators.”
AGREEMENTS ARE CREATED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL INDEPENDENTLY EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY BE WORKING IN A GROUP.
DUE WEEKLY – Project Pitch – You will be asked to practice talking about your event as often as possible when we meet as a group class.
DUE TBD – Advising appointments. 2 individual appointments with faculty. 2 group meetings (for groups only).
DUE MAR 5 – Publicity and Social Media Strategy documentation.
DUE MAR 5 – Mid Term Self-Evaluation. Please email to nita dot sturiale at massart dot edu
> http://www.nitasturiale.com/massart/eval/mideval.html
DUE MAR 5 – Catalog Draft. Event(s) Catalog Draft with Financial Statement. Check out the Burning Man final year-end reports and financial statements example:
> http://afterburn.burningman.com
DUE TBD– Final Event(s). The completion of a significant event or series of events that is a culmination of the work you began in the Fall.
DUE MAY 7 – Final Catalog. Professionally printed and bound Event(s) Catalog that includes documentation of all or part of your event(s) – this portfolio may include all or parts of your final report. Examples:
- Eventworks 2007 > http://www.lulu.com/content/1620552
- Eventworks 2009 > http://www.blurb.com/books/720134
DUE MAY 7 – Final Self-Evaluation. Please email to nita dot sturiale at massart dot edu
> http://www.nitasturiale.com/massart/eval/finaleval.html
Weekly Schedule (subject to change):
January 22 – First Group Meeting
- Intros, Logistics, Expectations, Scheduling of appointments.
- Timeline Excel template > Project_TimeLine
- WATCH: TEDX Amanda Palmer: the Art of Asking
>http://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_palmer_the_art_of_asking?language=en - A Brief History of the To-Do List and the Psychology of Its Success by Maria Popova
January 29 – Group Meeting
- DUE: Spring Agreement
Feb 5 – NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
Feb 12 – NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
Feb 19 – NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
Feb 26 – NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
Mar 5 – NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
Mar 5 – Group Meeting
- Mid-Semester
- DUE – Publicity strategy with examples
- DUE – financial statements and catalog DRAFT – templates, design, format, etc. Bring printed copies for group review to class.
- DUE – Mid Term Self-Evaluation
> http://www.nitasturiale.com/massart/eval/mideval.html
email to nita dot sturiale at massart dot edu
Mar 12 – NO CLASS: Spring Break
Mar 19 – NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
Mar 26 – NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
April 2 – NO Group Meeting: SIM All School Show prep
April 9 – NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
April 16 – NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
April 23 – NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
April 30 – NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
May 7 – Final class group meeting [24 hour access begins]
- DUE – Final professionally bound portfolio/catalog of your event(s)
- DUE – Final Self-Evaluation
> http://www.nitasturiale.com/massart/eval/finaleval.html
Friendly reminder – no course credit without both self-evaluations!
Grading:
Two grading systems are used at the college; The Studio for Interrelated Media department uses a Pass/No Credit/Incomplete grading system.
Grades are defined as follows:
- Pass – Work meeting all expectations for successful completion of the course.
- NC – No Credit Work that does not meet the expectations of the course.
- INC – Incomplete. A temporary designation indicating that at least 80% of the course requirements have been met and that the remaining course requirements are expected to be completed, and a permanent designation issued by the subsequent mid-semester. The student is responsible for having an Individual Grade Sheet completed by the appropriate faculty member and filed with the Registrar. If the student does not complete the course work, a non-passing grade will be issued.
Department Academic Progress
A student who earns a no credit in a major requirement or two no credits in major electives over two semesters is placed on probation. A student on probation who earns a no credit in a major requirement is subject to dismissal from the department.
Course Attendance
The college-wide policy permits no more than two absences per semester for a course that meets once a week prorated for classes that meet on a different schedule.
Plagiarism
Whenever your work incorporates someone else’s research, images, words, or ideas, you must properly identify the source unless you can reasonably expect knowledgeable people to recognize it. Proper citation gives credit where it is due and enables your readers to locate sources and pursue lines of inquiry raised by your paper. Students who do not comply will be penalized. For further information, see the MassArt Student Handbook or consult with the Academic Resource Center.
Classroom Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Massachusetts College of Art and Design is committed to fostering the academic, personal, and professional growth of our students. We are especially committed to ensuring that students with documented disabilities, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), are provided equal access to all campus resources and opportunities. If you believe you have a disability that may warrant accommodations, I urge you to contact Ms. Erla Shehu (Erla.Shehu@massart.edu or 617-879-7692) in the Academic Resource Center (formerly the Learning Center), Tower 550. The Academic Resource Center provides access to a learning specialist, an academic coach and professional tutors.
Additional Thoughts:
Our goal is to learn things we don’t already know towards the long-term goal of being effective and articulate artists, organizers, do-ers. The instructors’ responsibilities are to create opportunities for learning in a relatively safe, structured, and facilitated environment. Your responsibility is to take these opportunities and run with them. Your full physical and mental presence and your engagement in the process is required for this formula to work. Voice your interests, thoughts, and questions and listen to your classmates. Learning takes patience, generosity, tolerance, a sense of humor, and a willingness to try new things without fear.
January 2015
N. Sturiale
http://blogs.massart.edu/epp/