Massachusetts College of Art :: Event Planning and Production

SIM319X: Event Planning and Production

Syllabus
Spring 2010

Thursdays, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
N181 or SIM Faculty office

Instructor: Nita Sturiale
Email: nita dot sturiale at massart dot edu
Office hours: by apt.

Many of the course materials, important schedule changes, and appropriate links are online via the following URL www.nitasturiale.com/massart. Please check the online syllabus linked from this page often throughout the semester.

Also, please become a member of the course online group site at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MassArtEvents/

Course Description:

This course is for those that are actively involved in organizing and producing events and exhibitions throughout the year. It is required for Eventworks Producers and Godine Family Gallery Managers. Students will meet with the instructor one on one throughout the semester, additionally the class will meet periodically as a group to discuss general production issues. It is also open to those not involved in Eventworks or Godine Gallery but that have another event(s) in mind. By permission of instructor. This is a one-year long course.

Course Objectives:

The goals of this course are: to provide an opportunity to earn college credit for work involved with producing events outside the school academic structure; to learn the skills necessary to write a project proposal, realistic timelines, budgets and financial records; to practice interacting with the neccesary support staff needed to produce events; to provide students practice in articulating their intentions, questions and artistic goals; and to suggest resources for researching solutions and answers after leaving school.

Course Requirements:

Be present in body - come to class on time - more than two unexcused absences, or chronic lateness may result in a NC grade. Since we only meet a few times as a class your attendance is essential to all class meetings as well as individual and group appointments with faculty.
Be present in mind and mouth - participate in class discussion and critique sessions,
Participate in group exercises when applicable,
Read the readings (when assigned) and be prepared to discuss them in class.
Complete all assignments (see below) by the due date - if you can't make the due date, discuss an extension with Nita. End of the semester grades of INC are not automatic just because you haven't finished your work - you may request one with good reasons and with two weeks notice before the last class.

	Assignments (spring semester)	Due
	Contract - Prepare and sign a contract with me that will be used to assess your progress throughout the course. The required componants of this contract include: A brief description of your Event(s)/Project; A timeline (focus should be on spring semester); A contact list of your production team (including yourself); your signature; A list of activities you will engage in throughout the semester. The 2 apts, financial statement and year-end report, Project portfolio should be among the activities listed. However, you may add other activities and goals specific to your situation - for example, "I want to practice and improve how I communicate my ideas to potential collaborators." CONTRACTS ARE CREATED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL INDEPENDANTLY EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY BE WORKING IN A GROUP.	Jan 28
	2 individual appointments with faculty	TBD
	The completion of a significant event or series of events that is a culmination of the work you began in the Fall.	Any point during semester
	Final Report and Financial Statement Follow this link for examples of final year-end reports and financial statements - afterburn.burningman.com	Draft - March 18 Final - April 29
	Professionally printed and bound Portfolio/Catalog that includes documentation of all or part of your event(s) - this portfolio may include all or parts of your final report. Check out the Eventworks '07 book available at www.lulu.com/content/1620552	Draft - March 18 Final - May 6
	Mid and Final Self-Evaluation.	Mid - March 4 Final - May 6

	Weekly Schedule (subject to change):
Jan 21	Class meeting Intros, Logistics, Expectations, Scheduling of appointments
Jan 28	Class meeting DUE - Contracts [add/drop deadline]
Feb 4	NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
Feb 11	NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
Feb 18	NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
Feb 25	NO CLASS - Faculty/Staff Day
Mar 4	NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA DUE - Mid Term Self Evaluation www.nitasturiale.com/massart/eval/mideval.html email to nita dot sturiale at massart dot edu
Mar 11	NO CLASS: Spring Break
Mar 18	Mid-semester class meeting DUE - final reports and portfolio DRAFT - templates, design, format, etc. Bring printed copies for group review to class.
Mar 25	NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
April 1	NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
April 8	NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
April 15	NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
April 22	NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA
April 29	NO Group Meeting: Individual appointments TBA DUE - Final Report and Financial Statement
May 6	Final class meeting DUE - Project Portfolio - BRING A PRINTED, BOUND, HARD COPY TO CLASS! DUE - Final Self Evaluation www.nitasturiale.com/massart/eval/finaleval.html Friendly reminder - no course credit without both self-evaluations!

Course Grading:

This is a Pass/Fall class. You'll pass if you meet the requirements and complete all the assignments on time. The grade of Honors is reserved for those that go far above and beyond the requirements in the instructor's view (they never miss a class, bring in additional resources pertaining to the topic, create projects that exceed expectations, consistently and thoughtfully engage in conversations by listening to classmates and extending the quality of discussion, etc). The grade of INC is awarded based on your conversation with the faculty and at their discretion, at least two weeks before the last class. See below for more information about the grading system at MassArt.

It is a MassArt requirement that this explanation be given along with the syllabus for each class.

Two grading systems are used at the college:

1. Letter grades (H, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, F, Incomplete) are given in courses offered in: Critical Studies, above the first year Art Education Environmental Design Communication Design

2. Honors/ Pass/ No Credit/ Incomplete grades are given in courses offered in: First year courses Media and Performing Arts Fine Arts 2D Fine Arts 3D Graduate Program

Grades are defined as follows:

A Exceptional work in all respects.
B Above average work, distinguished in certain but not all respects.
C Average.
D Below average work. This is the lowest passing grade; individual departments may set standards for the application of “D” grades toward progress in the major.
F Failing work. No credit is given.
H Work that shows the highest distinction, well above the expectations for course credit.
Pass Work meeting all expectations for successful completion of the course.
NC No Credit. Work that does not meet the expectations of the course
Inc. Incomplete. A temporary designation indicating that at least 80% of the course requirements have been met and that the remaining course requirements are expected to be completed, and a permanent designation issued by the subsequent mid-semester. The student is responsible for having an Individual Grade Sheet completed by the appropriate Faculty member and filed with the Registrar. If the student does not complete the course work, a non-passing grade will be issued.

Additional Thoughts:

Our goal is to learn things we don't already know towards the long-term goal of being effective and articulate artists. The instructors' responsibilities are to present information and provocations in a structured environment that will help your learning process. Your responsibility is to participate in this environment fully by voicing your interests, thoughts, and questions as well as listening to your classmates. Class participation, discussion and attention is fundamental and required. Completion of all the assignments is also required for success. Learning takes patience, tolerance, a sense of humor and a willingness to try new things without fear.

If you believe you have a disability that may warrant accommodations in this class, we urge you to register with Mercedes Evans, Director of Diversity and Civil Rights Compliance, Tower 808, telephone extension 7060.

January 2010
N. Sturiale
www.nitasturiale.com/massart