by Alun J. Carr

What do I do if my school’s administration is trying to downsize the arts department?
My school has been going through problems b/w the arts department and administration. The administration feels that the smaller the department is, the better. However, each department, especially Drama, has strengthened. Drama has almost doubled in participation and we have raised a lot of money. We have our own bank account, so it’s not like the school is paying an arm and a leg to keep Drama afloat. We’ve been told we’re only doing one show next year. This year we did three full shows and a one-act for competition. We have more money in our bank account than we’ve had in years.

The administration’s reasoning behind this is that they “want to raise more money from one show.” This is ridiculous. If we did one show, we wouldn’t raise half the money and we probably wouldn’t be able to afford to do Thespian things and Drama Awards at the end of the year.

I want to save my Drama Dept, which will save all the arts departments at my school, what should I do? I’m a senior next year!

The answer in the following:

Answer by wile e coyote super genius
Have Karaoke Nights weekly where students and faculty get to sing. Charge admission and put the money into the schools general fund. You could have judges and do an american idol thing. Good luck!

Answer by Jaymie
Something similar is happening at my school. We’re going from four to five shows a year to only two. So we decided that we would have students become more active in the production aspect. In addition to the two “mainstage” productions, we plan to put on smaller, student-produced shows. To keep costs down, we’re going have minimal sets and use costumes from repertoire. We plan to put on the plays that are read in the English classes so that a lot of students come.
We also plan to start doing a monthly improv show.

Answer by Lays
There’s nothing you can do within your school, but you can always find an arts program outside your school. Ask around, I’m sure you’ll find something!

Answer by average_american_superhero
I am really sorry this is happening at your school. However, there are a lot of administrative costs that your shows probably do cost (salaries, janitorial, having the area open for rehearsals…) the school some significant money. I do think you should make the most of the opportunities you are given. Get together a small group of you to represent the drama participants and go to your administration and ask if there is anything you can do to help provide better opportunities for you that year. They may be impressed that you are willing to help out. Organize some community members to speak out to support your departments at school board meetings. Don’t try to fight the administration, try to work with them.

Don’t worry too much about what “will” happen, I’m sure that your administration has been looking at a lot of angles and are doing what they feel they need to. Make the most of what you do, you may be surprised.

Fact is, drama is expensive for schools to keep going (whether some of your expenses are paid out of a boosters fund or not). Sadly, many areas who have strong athletic followings have had to cut back drama drasticly. Even in community non profit arts organizations, funding has been cut by HUGE percentages (80 or more percent cut).

I’ve worked at a non profit arts organization for the last seven years, and this is just a way of life for us. We constantly need to find new ways to raise funds, improve membership, and we get paid significantly less than others in our area for similar responsibilities. Look at this as a good life lesson in what participating in the arts is really like. It’s hard, but it can push you to be creative. Good luck!

Answer by xxthespianxx
You need a lot of parents to call and write the administration. That’s how things work, seriously.

Give your answer to this question below!
_______________________
_______________________

this is arts administration.


Image by beenit

_______________________
_______________________