Insights from Both Sides: How Arts Consulting Informed Festival Production and What I Learned in Return

It is no secret that producing a performance requires a special mix of creative and technical expertise, so I wasn’t surprised when I found myself relying on the same skills I need as an Account Manager to help produce Dual Rivet’s Made By Women Festival. However, I was pleasantly surprised when the inverse happened. My journey as a festival curator and producer provided me with a deeper understanding, allowing me to see my work at Bloom in a new light.

Currently based in New York, I’m an arts administrator, curator, and producer passionate about activating and redefining cultural spaces. For the past six years, I’ve curated and produced community-centered art events, inspired by artistic ideas that foster connection and understanding, to create welcoming spaces for marginalized communities. Earlier this year, Jessica Smith and Chelsea Ainsworth, Artistic Directors of the women-led dance company Dual Rivet, invited me to support the fourth-annual Made By Women Festival, which promotes inclusion by connecting women choreographers & filmmakers to networking opportunities, resources, and a chance to present their work to the NYC community. I was thrilled to bring both my prior experience and my new skills as an account manager for Bloom Arts Strategy to this project.

At Bloom, my role involves close collaboration with artists and community organizers–understanding their goals and translating creative visions into actionable plans. With each client and project, I learned something new and these skills proved invaluable for the festival.

Working with the Made By Women team helped me appreciate what our clients experience—the passion, the anxieties, the inevitable changes, and the sense of achievement. It gave me firsthand insight into the pressures of manifesting your dreams, making me more empathetic and responsive to the artists and organizations we serve.

I returned with a renewed focus on anticipating needs, troubleshooting potential challenges, and offering practical solutions. My festival experience reinforced the value of foresight and flexibility, necessary qualities for my role at Bloom as we help clients realize their unique visions.

Curating and producing the Made By Women Festival was a professional milestone and a personal passion project. My experience with Bloom Arts Strategy provided me with the resources and knowledge needed to support Dual Rivet and their team, while the festival, in turn, further enriched my approach to clients and their work. Now, more than ever, I’m committed to supporting artists as they bring their bold and meaningful projects to life.