Emerging Arts Professionals Panel: The Future of the Arts Industry
Friday, November 6, 2020 at 2:00 pm
With Riley Baracskai, Erin Burris, Taylor Burrows, Nzingha Cameron, and Liam Rio
Moderated by Kaitlyn Anson
The arts are struggling right now. Established artists are taking a hit from lack of available work and many are considering a career change. But how has this pandemic impacted those just starting their career or study in the arts? Join us to hear from several aspiring and up-and-coming arts professionals about their hopes, concerns, and ideas for the future of the arts industry.
Kaitlyn Anson – Moderator
Kaitlyn Anson is a second-year Arts Management Master’s candidate at American University in Washington, D.C. Her connection to the arts stems from a lifelong love of dance and an incessant need to write every thought in her head down on paper. After completing her bachelor’s in Creative Writing and Journalism from Gonzaga University, Kaitlyn moved back to her hometown to dip her toes in the nonprofit sector as an intern with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. She has since worked for multiple dance studios and in healthcare administration at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She is currently (virtually) serving as a Graduate Fellow in the American University Dance Program and as an intern at Arts Services Inc. here in Buffalo, NY. She has quickly fallen in love with Buffalo arts and culture and hopes to continue to work within them after finishing graduate school. In her free time, you can find Kaitlyn exploring WNY at a social distance, investing in too many scented candles, and dying her hair to match headshot backdrops.
Riley Baracskai
Riley Baracskai (he/him) is currently in his second and final year as a Master of Arts Management graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems, Public Policy, and Management. He attended SUNY Fredonia from 2015 to 2019, during which time he worked as a ticket office manager, director, and stage manager, graduating summa cum laude in 2019 with a B.A. in Theatre Arts and Arts Administration. He is thrilled to be (virtually) returning to ASI for the CPX 2020, as he began his Arts Management career in earnest as ASI’s Arts Administration Intern in the Fall of 2017. Since his time at ASI, he has worked with a wide range of arts institutions, serving as Adult Education Programming Intern at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Development Intern at Pittsburgh’s Quantum Theatre, and currently, Development Intern at Pittsburgh’s Mattress Factory Museum, a nationally and internationally recognized leader in site-specific, contemporary art.
Particularly interested in how Development/Fundraising departments influence nonprofits and their day-to-day operations, Riley’s current research involves exploring alternative fundraising models that make both the Development profession and entire nonprofit sector more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
Erin Burris
Erin Burris is a talent manager at Whole Artist Management in New York City. WAM has placed clients on CHICAGO PD, LAW & ORDER SVU, FBI, BULL, FOSSE/VERDON, and many others. In addition, WAM has clients on Broadway and in National Tours including HAMILTON, WAITRESS, BE MORE CHILL, COME FROM AWAY, KINKY BOOTS, FROZEN and more. Prior to joining the team at Whole Artist Management Erin was an intern and a freelance casting assistant at Binder Casting where she assisted on projects including THE LION KING (Broadway), EMOJILAND (Off-Broadway), SISTER ACT (Paper Mill Playhouse), and The York Theatre’s Musicals in Muftis Series. Erin earned a dual degree in Musical Theatre and Communication from the State University of New York at Geneseo.
Taylor Burrows
Taylor Burrows is a current student in the University at Buffalo’s Arts Management Master’s Program. In 2019, she obtained a B.F.A. in Music Theatre from the University of Buffalo, and also has received a certificate in Musical Theater from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Throughout her time in Buffalo, she has professionally performed in musicals, while balancing graduate school and several internships at local arts organizations. Her internship experiences include being a development assistant at Alleyway Theatre, a management/marketing representative for the Theatre of Youth, and an arts administration intern at the Arts Services Inc. With ASI, she was responsible for critical research into the operations of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations pre and post COVID-19. She is excited to see where her path leads her.
Nzingha Cameron
Nzingha Cameron is a writer from Buffalo, New York who attends Frederick Law Olmsted. Her interests include singing, writing poetry, reading, and playing violin. She aspires to be a music therapist. Currently her favorite author is Elizabeth Acevedo. She is a Youth Ambassador with the Just Buffalo Writing Center.
Liam Rio
Liam Rio is a relatively new young writer in the Buffalo area currently attending City Honors at Fosdick Masten Park for his sophomore year. He writes for his school’s newspaper and yearbook and loves writing literally anything concerning anything yet will always choose poetry if ever fronted with an option. His ideal late night would be going over stanzas and blasting Beatles music. He is a Youth Ambassador with the Just Buffalo Writing Center.
