Every issue of ArtsProfessional is crammed with news of people changing their jobs ? moving on, moving up, or this week, in the case of Tamara Malcolm (see below), moving into retirement.
How pleasant it must be for her to be able to look back on 27 years of achievements at the delightful Chipping Norton Theatre ? (which, incidentally, produces some of the best pantomimes in the industry).These days, of course, it?s unusual for anyone to work with an arts organisation (or any organisation come to that) for 27 years. Why not? Well, it?s partly because most arts organisations are classified as ?small and medium-size enterprises?, and simply don?t have the scope to be able to offer staff the personal and professional development opportunities that they need. But that?s not the whole answer. There?s another sizeable group of people looking for new jobs because they?re not only paid appallingly, but also treated with indifference by managers who fail to communicate with them, trust their judgement or allow them scope for exercising any creative thoughts. If Adrian Phillips? observations of morale in the Box Office (p7) hold true across the country, then it?s surprising than arts organisations ever sell any tickets at all. Lynne Sinnamon (p7) proposes a series of useful steps that an organisation can take to nurture its Box Office team; but we?d all do well to take note that the measures she advocates are applicable across the whole organisation, not just at the sharp end. The arts sector simply can?t afford to lose good people through poor management.
Published: 11-02-2002