18-22 July 2011, Brussels, Belgium

The International Arts Professionals Summer School is an intense week of inspirational learning for creative practitioners, arts managers and cultural project managers interested in engaging with the current debates and research in the management of visual and performing arts organisations.

The Summer School is organised by the University of Kent, School of Arts in partnership with ENCATC and will be hosted in the University of Kent in Brussels. It will take place between the 18th and 22nd of July 2011.

The International Arts Professionals Summer School has been developed for cultural and arts organisations’ managers and creative practitioners in the visual and performing arts. Preference will be given to participants with a minimum of three years experience in the cultural and creative sector (although the participation of postgraduate and PhD students might be considered).

The International Arts Professionals Summer School will be delivered as a mix of lectures, presentations, workshops, discussions and practical exercises. It will include contributions from leading international experts and cultural leaders from UK and Europe, as well as academics and researchers in this field. Keynote speakers during the event include Mr Nick Starr, Executive Director of the National Theatre, Mrs Clare Cooper, co-founder and co-director of the Mission Models Money (MMM) programme, and Mrs Kate Mitchell, the Development Director of Wilton's, the world's oldest surviving Music Hall. An interview with Mr Dermot O'Brien from the University of Kent who will be coordinating the International Arts Professionals Summer School is available on the dedicated website.

The programme will start with a general introduction to arts management and arts policy in Europe but it will specifically focus on key issue and barrier in the practice of today’s cultural managers. It will cover these key themes: the European funding and framework for arts and culture; balancing public and private funding for the arts; evaluating cultural projects and activities; developing cultural brands and markets; leadership in arts and cultural organisations and innovation and new fundraising frontiers for the arts.

The International Arts Professionals Summer School will deliver an intense learning opportunity for arts managers wanting to develop further their knowledge and expertise in this field and will also provide an opportunity for participants to network and establish partnerships.

To read the full Press Release, please click here.

For further information and to register to attend the International Arts Professionals Summer School 2011 visit www.next-arts-professionals.org.uk