Runa King, a passionate dancer and arts administrator from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, brings a unique blend of experiences to her career in the arts. With a background that spans outdoor education, dance, and arts management, Runa’s journey has been shaped by her love for both art and nature. After earning a degree in politics, geology, and dance from Washington and Lee University, Runa transitioned into arts administration, working with organizations like ShaLeigh Dance Works and the Joffrey Ballet School. Now pursuing an MA in Arts Administration at Columbia University, Runa shares her insights into why she chose this path, what surprised her about the program, and how her current internship is shaping her future in the arts.
What inspired you to pursue an MA in Arts Administration?
“I grew up dancing, but by the time I was applying for college, I recognized that I didn’t want to pursue that professionally. While attending Washington and Lee University, I leaned into the liberal arts approach to my education and began studying new things that interested me. That led me to a degree in geology and politics with a minor in dance. After a few years of working in the outdoor education space, I pivoted my career to arts administration by taking a job with a small dance company. While working there I began to recognize that there was much I still needed to learn if I wanted to become a successful leader in the industry. I’d known for a while I wanted to go back to school, but I wasn’t sure what path was right for me. I was looking at different MBA and MFA programs when I came across ARAD, and this program seemed to be a perfect marriage of practical business skills and theory to inform my understanding of the industry and systems at play. I was drawn not only to the program’s specific pedagogy but also the artistic opportunities being located in New York City could provide.”
What surprised you the most about the program, or what new interests did you develop?
“I have been pulled deeply into the performing arts sector for most of my life, and I feel like I’ve grown so much and absorbed so much knowledge by being surrounded by a cohort with a wide variety of artistic interests and backgrounds! I love the fact that we’re able to bounce off of each other and share how triumphs and problems manifest in different ways in different corners of the arts industry. Thanks to many of my peers, I’ve become more interested and engaged with how technology is influencing and impacting the visual arts world both in terms of the work being produced and operationally within galleries, auction houses, and museums. I’m actively taking notes on the lessons that are being learned in those spaces and thinking about how they can be applied to the performing arts world.”
What is your current internship?
“I am currently interning with the Advancement Team at the American Ballet Theatre! I work specifically with Major Gifts and Donor Relations. Through this internship I’ve gained a lot of technical skills, but I’ve also gained a stronger understanding of how a team works to create and enact a strategic plan to cultivate, acquire, and build relationships with donors. It has also been a dream to work for one of my favorite ballet companies in the world!”
Arts Administration 
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