The Art Career

The Art Career is a space breaking barriers by letting you sit in on candid, straightforward conversations with leaders in visual arts, writing, music, theater and film. Join New York based advisor, curator, and overall artist advocate, Emily McElwreath, for authentic conversations with icons of our generation like #1 New York Times best selling author Cheryl Strayed, senior art critic for New York Magazine, Jerry Saltz, and world renowned artist, Marilyn Minter. Emily dives deep into topics like self development, career trajectories, mental health, and social justice.

The Art Career is a arts podcast hosted by Emily McElwreath, with 106 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Emily McElwreath hosts The Art Career, a arts show with 106 episodes published.

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  The Art Career

  The Juilliard School: Inside the Dance Division with Melissa Toogood

  Aug 13, 202625 min

  Episode 3 of The Art Career’s New York season goes inside one of the world’s most influential training grounds for artists: The Juilliard School. What does it mean to train the next generation of dancers at a moment when the field—and the possibilities of a life in dance—continue to evolve? Melissa Toogood is the Dean and Director of Juilliard’s Dance Division, as well as an acclaimed dancer, educator, and former member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. Her career has moved between performance, collaboration, teaching, and artistic leadership, giving her a rare perspective on what it takes to build—and sustain—a life in dance. Emily sits down with Melissa at Juilliard to discuss the realities of a professional dance career, the role of rigorous training, how young dancers develop their own artistic voices, and what it means to lead one of the most respected dance programs in the world. Then, the episode moves from the classroom to the stage. Emily joins Juilliard’s dancers behind the scenes as they prepare to perform Les Élémens at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, featuring world-premiere choreography for Juilliard dancers by Pam Tanowitz. In this episode, Emily and Melissa discuss: What Juilliard is preparing young dancers for today The transition from student to working artist Developing individuality within rigorous technical training Melissa’s own path from performer to educator and institutional leader What young artists need to understand about building sustainable creative careers The discipline, collaboration, and work audiences rarely see behind a finished performance Recorded at The Juilliard School in New York City, with behind-the-scenes access to Juilliard Dance at Carnegie Hall. The Juilliard School https://www.juilliard.edu Juilliard Dance Division https://www.juilliard.edu/dance Melissa Toogood https://www.juilliard.edu/dance/faculty/toogood-melissa Carnegie Hall https://www.carnegiehall.org Featuring Melissa Toogood , Dean and Director of the Dance Division at The Juilliard School Hosted by Emily McElwreath Recorded at The Juilliard School and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall , New York City Featuring behind-the-scenes access to Juilliard Dance and Juilliard in rehearsal for Les Élémens , featuring world-premiere choreography for Juilliard dancers by Pam Tanowitz Special thanks to The Juilliard School, the Juilliard Dance Division, and Carnegie Hall The Art Career is produced by McElwreath Art Advisory.

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  The Art Career

  ArtBridge NYC: Transforming Public Space

  Aug 6, 202640 min

  Episode Two of The Art Career’s New York season shows you how can public art transform an entire neighborhood — and what happens when artists become part of the everyday lives of the communities around them? Stephen Pierson is the Executive Director of ArtBridge , a nonprofit organization that transforms construction fencing, scaffolding, and underutilized urban spaces into large-scale public art. Joining the conversation are artists Kat Lamb and Blanka Amezkua , whose public installations explore ideas of place, identity, community, and the ways art can reshape our shared urban landscape. In this episode, Emily walks through Lower Manhattan with Stephen, Kat, and Blanka, visiting ArtBridge installations and exploring how public art can make cities more thoughtful, more inclusive, and more connected. In this episode, Emily, Stephen, Kat, and Blanka discuss: Why public art belongs in everyday life—not just inside museums and galleries How ArtBridge transforms construction sites into opportunities for artists and communities What it means to create artwork for the public rather than a traditional exhibition space How artists engage with the neighborhoods where their work is installed The importance of amplifying local voices through public art Why New York remains one of the world’s most dynamic places for artistic experimentation The Art Career’s New York season takes you inside the rooms, institutions, and public spaces where the city’s culture takes shape — new episodes weekly. Follow ArtBridge: Instagram — @artbridge_nyc Website — art-bridge.org Follow The Art Career : Instagram — @theartcareer YouTube — The Art Career Website — theartcareer.com Follow Emily McElwreath: Instagram — @emily.mcelwreathart If this conversation resonates, follow the show and leave a rating — it’s the single best way to help us bring you more of the people shaping culture. Sound: Josh Craig Creative Director: Nina Yankovich

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  The Art Career

  Shanta Thake: Inside Lincoln Center

  Jul 30, 202642 min

  Episode One of The Art Career's New York season begins at the top: Lincoln Center. What does it take to lead the artistic vision of the world's most iconic performing arts institution — and why does she believe the arts are one of the only tools we have left to truly see one another? Shanta Thake is the Chief Artistic Officer of Lincoln Center, where she shapes the artistic direction of one of the great cultural institutions in the world. Before Lincoln Center, she spent more than a decade at The Public Theater, where she directed the legendary Joe's Pub and championed some of the most exciting voices in American performance. She is one of the most influential figures deciding what New York — and the country — gets to see on its stages. In this episode, Emily and Shanta discuss: Why the performing arts are "one of the only tools we have to move us forward" What a Chief Artistic Officer actually does — and how those decisions get made Leading Lincoln Center into its next era, and who these stages are really for The path from downtown stages to the world's biggest cultural institution Why seeing one another — in person, in a room — matters more than ever Advice for the next generation building a life in the arts The Art Career's New York season takes you inside the rooms where the city's culture takes shape — new episodes weekly. Follow Shanta Thake: Instagram — @shantourage Follow Lincoln Center: Instagram — @lincolncenter Website — lincolncenter.org Follow The Art Career: Instagram — @theartcareer YouTube — The Art Career Website — theartcareer.com Follow Emily McElwreath: Instagram — @emily.mcelwreathart If this conversation resonates, follow the show and leave a rating — it's the single best way to help us bring you more of the people shaping culture. Sound: Josh Craig Creative Director: Nina Yankovich

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  The Art Career

  Inside SCAD Museum of Art with Chief Curator Daniel S. Palmer

  Jun 25, 202642 min

  This week on The Art Career, Emily McElwreath sits down with Daniel S. Palmer, Chief Curator of the SCAD Museum of Art . Located in Savannah, Georgia, the SCAD Museum of Art has emerged as one of the most dynamic contemporary art institutions in the United States, presenting ambitious exhibitions by leading international artists while serving as an educational resource for students, artists, and the broader public. In this conversation, Daniel discusses his path to curatorial leadership, the evolving role of museums in contemporary culture, and the challenges and opportunities facing institutions today. Together, Emily and Daniel explore exhibition-making, artist support, audience engagement, and what it takes to build a museum program that is both academically rigorous and publicly accessible. Whether you’re an artist, curator, student, collector, or simply interested in how cultural institutions operate behind the scenes, this episode offers an insightful look at the people and ideas shaping contemporary art today. About Daniel S. Palmer Daniel S. Palmer is Chief Curator of the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah, Georgia. Prior to joining SCAD, he served as Curator at the Public Art Fund in New York, where he organized numerous exhibitions and public art projects with internationally recognized artists. Throughout his career, Palmer has worked across museums, public art initiatives, and academic institutions, developing exhibitions that explore contemporary artistic practice and engage broad audiences. At SCAD Museum of Art, he oversees a dynamic exhibition program featuring leading emerging and established artists from around the world, while helping to shape the museum’s role as both a cultural destination and educational resource. Palmer has written extensively on contemporary art and has contributed essays and scholarship to numerous exhibition catalogs and publications. His curatorial work reflects a commitment to supporting artists, fostering critical dialogue, and expanding access to contemporary art through innovative exhibition-making and public engagement. The Art Career is a cultural media platform exploring how creative careers are built across disciplines, places, and communities. Hosted by Emily McElwreath, the podcast features candid conversations with artists, curators, critics, writers, performers, and cultural leaders shaping contemporary creative life. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.

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  The Art Career

  Mr. StarCity: Big Bless

  Mar 12, 202650 min

  Brooklyn artist Mr. StarCity joins The Art Career Podcast . A multidisciplinary artist working across painting, sculpture, poetry, music, and film, Mr. StarCity’s practice centers on expressive figurative painting and deeply personal storytelling. His works often emerge from poetry and lived experience, exploring themes of love, healing, and the complexities of the human condition. Originally gaining recognition through murals and public works, his practice has expanded into a powerful studio output across canvas and mixed media, with paintings that feel both intimate and mythic in their emotional intensity. His work has been exhibited internationally and featured in publications including Juxtapoz , Hyperallergic , InStyle , and Vogue . Follow Mr. StarCity : https://www.instagram.com/mrstarcity/ Follow Emily McElwreath on Instagram: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @emilymcelwreath_art⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ theartcareer.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ for more episodes and resources If you loved this episode, tag ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @theartcareer ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and share your favorite insight on IG stories! Don’t forget to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more creatives discover the show. Sound Engineer and Production: Josh Craig Creative Direction: Nina Yankovic

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