Michele began her professional journey in the arts in 1991 at TheatreWorks (now T:>Works) in a career in arts management. She currently works freelance across three broad areas in her practice. First, as a management consultant, where she works with arts organisations in the areas of strategic planning, organisational development and communications. Second, in producing, where she works with both independent artists and organisations across various performing arts disciplines. And lastly, as an educator. Michele has taught modules in Arts Management and Professional Development at LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE) as a part-time teacher since 2004. As an arts advocate, Michele is co-founder of the Singapore Drama Educators Association (SDEA) and Centre 42.

How did you get into teaching?

It was by chance. Joyce Teo, who was then leading the Diploma in Arts Management at LASALLE, managed to persuade me to teach the Arts Management module to the final year Drama students.

Teaching was not something I thought I would do as I am not formally schooled in Arts Management. I graduated from Law School in National University of Singapore in 1988. In the early 1990s, one could only get an Arts Management degree overseas. I pretty much learnt on the job. To build my capability and capacity as an arts manager, I read management and leadership articles and books, joined professional organisations, attended short courses and workshops, and learnt from people both in the arts and non-arts sectors. Joyce saw potential in me to teach and guided me in my maiden stint as a part-time lecturer at LASALLE. She then got me to teach the grant writing module to the Arts Management students. Joyce is currently the Associate Dean, School of the Arts Management at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).

You wear so many hats and have a large body of work. Can you tell me more about your work as an educator? 

I see teaching as an opportunity to learn and further hone my skills and capability as an arts management practitioner. I also see teaching as my way of contributing to the development of our arts sector as we cultivate more arts practitioners who are skilled and who treasure our Singapore arts legacy and growth.

I have been blessed to be able to work with different programme leaders and faculties at LASALLE. Over the years, I have also taught at Singapore Polytechnic (SP), School of the Arts Singapore and NAFA.

I mostly teach the performing arts students in the areas of professional development (such as public speaking and interview skills; career counselling and portfolio preparation; understanding the arts ecosystem; project management and grant writing, et cetera). At SP, I designed and taught the first five cohorts of the Diploma in Applied Drama and Psychology students, for the Arts and Community Services Management module.

In my work with adult learners, I work with arts organisations such as the National Arts Council (NAC), The Arts House, LASALLE Continuing Education and Training Programmes, NUS Centre for the Arts, SDEA and some arts groups. With these organisations, I have had the opportunity to design and conduct workshops relating to subjects like arts leadership, programming, strategic planning. I enjoy helping them to link what they are learning to their work; or getting them rejuvenated and see meaning in the work that they do. A recent adult training project I worked on this year is the NAC UOB Accelerator Programme where I was the arts facilitator.

I realised when I first started at LASALLE as a part-time lecturer, that teaching supports my work as an arts management practitioner. It has helped me reflect on my philosophy of practice, distilling the knowledge and experience that I have gained over the years as I impart them to my students to support their learning.  

Have there been challenging times in your teaching journey?

I do find teaching students who are not interested in learning particularly challenging. Teaching does test my ability and can be emotionally demanding. I am an introvert by nature, and I find teaching performative. Every class is different, and I have to think of different ways to engage students and get them to be invested in their learning.

What do you find the most rewarding about your work?

I feel very happy when I find my students thrive in their work and personal life, who are pursuing their purpose and are living life well and fully. Seeing my students at LASALLE and SP following through with their dreams, pursuing their career in the arts and actively contributing to our arts landscape—it is pure joy! I am very proud of them.

What are your hopes for every batch of students you encounter?