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Meet Jessica Bower, Arts Management Professor Here at C of C

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Erin Wiley Student Contributor, College of Charleston
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Camilla States Student Contributor, College of Charleston
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at C of C chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

 

When you attended C of C, what interested you about a career in Arts Management?

I became interested in arts management when I was a child. My mother’s best friend was a gallerist and I was also very inspired by indie rock. I made a pact with myself at the age of 13 that I would do whatever it took to intern at K Records, and then slowly started crossing off the list my objectives to achieve the goal. The arts management program at the College of Charleston helped me immensely as I learned the different areas and ways to work within them. 

Arts management is such a diverse field. What area are you most passionate about?

When I began my studies as a student I thought I would be working in the music industry, however I received a job at Redux Contemporary Art Center while still receiving my BA. While at Redux I developed a love for contemporary art and have been following that path ever since. 

Can you tell us a little bit about what you’ve done since graduating from the college?

When I left the college I took some time to continue working at Redux while also serving on the board for the New Music Collective in Charleston. I also followed another passion of mine and attended a pastry school in the south of France where I studied pastry and French for a few months. I then participated in a year of graduate studies at the University of Bologna with their honors college focused on International Cultural Heritage Management, followed by two years at Carnegie Mellon University in their Master’s of Arts Management program.

Why did you decide to come back to C of C to teach, and was there anything you missed about living in Charleston?

I really adore Charleston. It has always felt like home for me. Many of my friends are still living here and I love how they have been able to create inventive startups in Charleston, adding to the rich culture of the city.

So far, what do you enjoy most about being a College of Charleston professor?

Being a teacher is incredibly fulfilling. I love working with the students and helping them find their passions within the arts management field. 

What can you tell us about your organization and how it functions in the art and entertainment industry?

My company Gertrude is a for-profit startup based in Williamsburg, NY. Gertrude is a community for unique art experiences. We host Salons – intimate occasions to learn, discuss and collect art curated by today’s visionaries. Gertrude works to connect art enthusiasts, connoisseurs and collectors. Modeled after Gertrude Stein’s famous Paris Salon, which brought together collectors and artists such as Picasso, Braque, Matisse and Apollinaire (who later came to define modernism), Gertrude aims to recreate that experience for today’s art community in New York. 

What plans do you have for the future of your organization?

We are branching out nationally and internationally in the next 12 months, beginning with a Salon in Paris this October. I am looking forward to watching the company unfold as these advances come together! 

 

Photo by Gately Williams

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Erin Wiley

C of C

Erin Wiley is a junior at the College of Charleston, pursuing an AB degree in Arts Management with a minor in Communication. She has been writing for Her Campus for almost two years and created and maintains Her Campus CofC's Pinterest page. She loves everything from music to movies to fashion, and everything in between. After college, she hopes to do something in the entertainment industry, working with either a music producer or a film company. In her spare time, Erin likes to read, watch movies, and walk around historic downtown Charleston.
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Camilla States

C of C

Camilla States is a member of the class of 2015 at The College of Charleston.  She hails from the seaside town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, where she enjoys spending her summers on both land and sea.  A Communications major also pursuing a minor in Political Science, Camilla aspires for a future career in broadcast or print journalism. She is also studying Modern Standard Arabic, with hopes of one day becoming proficient in the language. From a young age, Camilla has held a fascination for world geography and foreign cultures.  She hopes to someday traverse the world, from New England to New Zealand and everywhere in between.