Name Susanne Barthelmes
Title Festival Administrator
Organisation Genius of the Violin
e: admin@geniusoftheviolin.org
How long in present post? Two and a half years
What does your organisation do? Genius of the Violin organises a biennial international violin festival encompassing a plethora of events ? from classical and non-classical concerts to workshops, masterclasses, exhibitions, conferences and competitions.
What does your job involve? Pretty much everything to do with festival planning and management, from developing a network of partners to programming events and booking artists and venues. Also, drawing up the budget, raising funds, administering the finances, marketing the festival and recruiting personnel. Not forgetting the nitty-gritty bits of editing programmes and managing the events during the festival itself.
Who did you previously work for? I started out as a book conservator in a library and museum in Germany. Whilst studying Applied Cultural Sciences I took a work placement in fundraising with the National Trust. The violin came into my life through the Foundation of Lower Saxony in Germany where I was administrator of the Hannover International Violin Competition.
What do you enjoy most about your present post? Developing projects with artists, convincing healthcare managers to invest in the arts and seeing faces light up at the results.
What do you find most difficult in your present post? The long run up to the actual event, and at times, the ridiculous workload.
What is your career ambition? Always to work for a project or organisation that captures my imagination and in a job that triggers my enthusiasm for making things happen.
Who has influenced your career to date the most?Anne Engelhardt, my former boss in Hannover, for being a fantastic mentor. Her support and encouragement taught me not to be afraid of completely new tasks.
If you could have done any job, what would it be? I always did what I wanted to do at the time.
If you had three wishes for the future of the arts, what would they be?
- More interdisciplinary projects and events to break down barriers and inspire each other;
- More networks for arts professionals to meet and exchange without being charged for it;
- Better salaries for arts professionals, acknowledging their importance in bringing the arts to the audiences.