Arts Consulting

ARTS CONSULTING FOR SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND ORGANIZATIONS

Rory’s work with the freshmen at Harvard was very special. We had not had a person in the role of developing arts initiatives before, and Rory tackled the programming with great creativity and energy, always keeping students at the center. They thrived with Rory’s instinct to listen, prod, and encourage.
- Tom Dingman, Dean of Freshman, Harvard College

My experience with FACES was tremendously life-changing because it not only allowed me the opportunity to grow as an artist - developing my confidence and courage in expressing myself - but more importantly influenced my ambitions, desires, and perspective as a person in this world.
- Ashleigh Cote '15, Past director and participant of FACES (Harvard College Collaborative Freshman Arts Program)

Maxine Greene, philosopher and educator, noted that the opposite of aesthetic is anesthetic.

The arts wake us up. They connect us, through our common human appreciation of music, movement, stories, and beauty, to people seemingly very different from us. They can, in a world focused on outcomes, build in our children and ourselves an understanding of process, while producing very immediate, confidence-building results.

The arts can nurture, and the arts can heal. They can facilitate growth in surprising ways, often spilling over into other areas of life. They can build skills -- concrete skills in communication, synthesizing information, and time management. They can foster important character traits such as patience, risk-taking, and empathy. Simply put, the arts are integral to a holistic education.

Yet, the story as we know it is all too often that the arts are the first to go when programs must be cut. This does not have to be the case. Your organization can have a flourishing, impactful arts program on a limited budget and with limited resources.

You should contact me if:

You are looking for someone with a proven track record in creating sustainable programs

You want to leverage resources and uncover hidden time and talent to make existing programs better or create new programs
You want to align innovative arts offerings with the mission of your organization

Services offered:

Initial consultation to determine mission, scope, and timeline of project/program
3-6 month implementation guidance (longer and shorter timelines may also be considered)
Plan for sustainable program management after consulting period ends

Past projects:

"Reading Fun Day", a literacy-building theatre experience for elementary school students, for West Babylon School District
Freshman Arts Collaborative Experience Showcase (FACES), a semester-long arts program for Harvard University
Arts Initiatives, including "Speed-Banding" night to connect potential band-mates and FRESHman Fiction, for Harvard University

Please contact m e for inquiries or to set up a free introductory Skype appointment to determine if this service is a good fit for your organization at this time. Make Art!

Rory Michelle Sullivan, Ed.M, has almost ten years of experience building sustainable arts programs on limited budgets for schools and non-profit organizations. She holds a master's degree in Arts in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has worked in the non-profit sector in program development, teaching, and fundraising at organizations ranging from Harvard University to the award-winning Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre. Her programs have touched the lives of thousands of young people. Her hallmark program, "Reading Fun Day", a literacy-building theatre experience for elementary school students, won the New York State English Council's Program of Excellence Award in 2009.