About
Having completed several AYO programs as a violinist from 2001-2004 – including the Arts Administration program – Shalini’s exciting career has included working in sponsorship and fundraising for Moonlight Cinema, The Australian Ballet and her current role as Sponsorship Manager for The Melbourne Festival.
Alumni Interview
Q&A
Question: How do you approach Sponsorship?
Answer I identify synergies between our company and a product and look at ways to leverage a partnership. For example, a sponsor might gain exposure of their brand or entertain key clients at a show. Sometimes it’s more integrated– e.g. at The Australian Ballet a sponsor created a Sleeping Beauty competition including flights, accommodation, designer pj’s and the chance to meet the dancers.
Question: Essential traits of a Sponsorship Manager?
Answer You need to anticipate the needs of a sponsor and come to the table with ideas about how to make the partnership mutually beneficial. It’s important to understand a sponsor’s capacity and what they’re doing in the marketplace.
Question: Most useful Arts Administration lessons?
Answer AYO’s Arts Administration course taught me how to put a program together, create schedules and how to balance meeting people’s diverse needs with getting the task done.
Question: You must be very busy during Festival time…
Answer Indeed – The Melbourne Festival has over 1,000 artists and 300 performances. It’s such a vibrant, exciting time and I spend three weeks running from one event to the next. I basically keep my life at work; hairdryers, make-up and several wardrobes on the go…
Question: Career highlights?
Answer Seeing The Australian Ballet’s ‘Bodytorque’ program, which brought dancers and choreographers together to create new works. Also, my first big win when I increased a company’s previous grant by 120%; that was a good day.