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Help Desk Services
Monthly Meetings
At the heart of Help Desk are the monthly meetings held at Pentacle where the mentors and artists (and invited administrators) convene to discuss relevant issues, make presentations about their work, and hear the expertise of guest speakers. Meetings are a mix of focused discussion and free-flowing exploration of topics. The agenda will alternate between artist presentations about their work and guest experts speaking about specific topics (sometimes requested by the artists in advance). Past topics have included fiscal planning, press kits, contract negotiation, etc.
1-on-1 Mentoring
The foundation of Help Desk is the mentor-artist relationship. 1-on-1 mentoring is an important aspect of the program as it is tailored to the needs of each individual artist. The goal of the mentor-artist relationship is to enable the artist to clarify their professional objectives and provide long lasting stability to the artist's professional infrastructure. All artists have access to the mentor of their choice on an hourly basis, subsidized through Pentacle.
Financial Resources and Subsidy Support
Help Desk artists are eligible for a variety of funding support, mainly through subsidized services. Artists receive implementation funds to execute an individual business plan outlined in consultation with their mentor(s). Pentacle provides a ticket reimbursement program to encourage Help Desk artists to attend each others' New York City seasons in order to become more informed champions of each others' work. Pentacle also subsidizes approved computer services for technical support and training. Additional funding opportunities and subsidized services are being drafted for the coming year.
Tutorial Workshops
Help Desk hosts occasional tutorial workshops led by knowledgeable professionals in dance administration or related fields. These occasional workshops are generally held at Pentacle on weekend afternoons. Possible tutorials include Excel and Photoshop.
Communication Network
Help Desk is a hub for communication exchanges between participants, effectively creating a communication network. Help Desk artists have the opportunity to announce upcoming performances and request or share resource information (suggestions for technical crew to audition notices to searching for equipment) in e-mail correspondences sent out by the Help Desk Coordinator each week.
Presenter Database
Pentacle is in the process of creating a database of presenters around the country who have booked Help Desk artists (and artists in similar situations). The database will include comprehensive information, including comments from Help Desk artists and mentors. Distribution and access to the database is limited to Help Desk participants.
Showcases
During 2002, Help Desk produced three showcases, presented several participating artists at APAP, and curated two showcases: the Columbia Festival for the Arts in Maryland and the International Dance Fair in Dusseldorf, Germany. Help Desk artists and mentors were involved in the selection and production processes associated with these showcases. In 2004, Help Desk artists were again involved in the International Dance Fair and look forward to participating again in 2006.
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