SUMMER INTERNSHIP 2007
		Jessica Whitford - MBA Schulich School of Business CEI Host Organization - Creative Trust CEI Funding partner - TD Bank

Hi everyone,

I am delighted to introduce myself as one of the CEI interns for the summer of 2007.  Identifying first and foremost as a dance artist and cultural advocate, I am seeking to gain valuable skills to assist the Canadian arts community become more prominent nationally and internationally.  I recently completed the first year of my MBA at the Schulich School of Business in Toronto where I am specializing in Arts and Media and Non Profit Management.

My internship is with Creative Trust: a six-year stabilization program designed to help 21 of Toronto’s mid-size performing arts companies develop strong planning and financial skills, achieve financial balance, and acquire and maintain a fund of working capital. Its goal is a stronger, more vibrant performing arts community whose most creative music, dance and theatre companies produce their work in a healthy and sustainable environment.  In the spirit of collaborative learning, Creative Trust has also established an Outreach Initiative to offer the technical assistance component of their main program with smaller culturally diverse companies in the city.  The Toronto Community Foundation recognized this initiative as a Vital Idea this spring.

Creative Trust recently completed their third year of the program with continued success and support from the community.  As interest in the Creative Trust project has developed amongst Canadian arts communities and other non-profit networks, the organization has hired me as their Strategic Evaluation Coordinator to complete a comprehensive third year evaluation report.  I have delved wholeheartedly into this project from a business perspective to better understand the community I already know as a dancer and supporter.  Alongside the quantitative and qualitative data available, I will be interviewing various participants and staff to enrich the report with case studies and to gain the most thorough perspective possible for this evaluation.  With only 12 weeks, I’m putting my best foot forward!

Already my work placement is proving to be the fulfilling and challenging experience I had hoped to find in the arts and cultural sector.  A big thanks to Creative Trust, CEI and my matching sponsor, TD Canada Trust for this opportunity.  I look forward to sharing my experience with other interns and Schulich come the fall!

Cheers,
Jessica Whitford