DeAvin Mitchell
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Program: Arts Policy and Administration MA
Degrees: BA, University of Kentucky
What sparked your interest in Arts Policy and Administration?
My initial interest in Arts Policy and Administration was birthed from a desire to learn skills that would assist me in building an arts center in underrepresented areas in my hometown. I learned about Arts Policy and Administration as a field of study in my undergraduate career while I was majoring in Art Education and Studio Art. As I continued in my studies, teaching art and learning how artists navigate in the world, my interest in Arts Policy and Administration grew further.
Why did you choose Ohio State for your MA studies?
When I was in the process of selecting what graduate programs to apply to, Ohio State separated itself from other degree programs because the program made clear and explicit connections between art education and arts policy in both the Plan of Study and the research interest of faculty. This was appealing to me, as someone who has a background in art education and understood its importance in the process of policymaking in the arts. Separately, I also thought the campus was beautiful!
What advice would you give to students who are interested in studying Arts Policy and Administration at Ohio State?
Time management, passion, and curiosity are the names of the game in a graduate school program! To be frank, there is a lot of work involved in the acquisition of a graduate degree. However, if you can develop a sense of independence in your research and cultivate an attitude of internal discipline, you will be successful. Do not let the intimidation attached to the cultural ideas surrounding graduate school cloud your experience or hinder how you approach your studies. As someone who entered this program with the perspective of an artist and art educator, my perspectives and ideas have been appreciated and validated. In this program you will meet people from many different educational, cultural, or ideological backgrounds, recognize them and learn from them too! Ask questions!
What do you do when you aren’t studying?
When I am not studying, I find joy spending time with friends that I have made in my cohort and in the Columbus area. There are many parks and outdoor recreational spaces in Columbus that I love walking around or hopping on my skateboard and cruising through. I also take time to return to my artmaking practice. I am a ceramist, poet, YouTuber, and painter. I love cooking and reading online recipes. Sometimes though, I simply like to just take a moment to breathe.
How have the faculty at Ohio State helped you develop your scholarship?
The faculty in this program have challenged me and my perceptions of the field since my very first class at Ohio State. I find myself almost in a perpetual state of self-refection and critical awareness, and though I have my own curiosities, a good amount of that feeling has been prompted by the various instructors and course materials in this program. I have leaned on faculty both in the Department of Arts Administration, Education, and Policy (AAEP) and in the John Glenn School of Public Affairs to help me develop my research topic, provide feedback on proposals, find reliable resources inside and outside of academia, and broaden my perspective of what arts policy and administration can be and look like.
How would you describe Columbus and what it has to offer?
Columbus is a city with a lot of personality. As I mentioned before, the campus is beautiful and there are plenty of hidden away spots to uncover. If you ever want to escape the Buckeye Nation though, Columbus has a lot to offer away from the campus. The cities large metro park system and the Scioto Trail are great places to indulge in nature. I personally like to explore the restaurants and markets in the city. For entertainment, the city has a few arts and cultural districts like the Short North and Franklinton. There is also the Columbus Museum of Art and CoSi. I also like to venture outside of the nucleus of the Greater Columbus area and explore nearby areas like Dublin and Westerville
What do you hope to do with your degree once you graduate?
That’s the big question, isn’t it haha! My plans after graduating are to return to the program to pursue my Ph.D. There are quite a few motivating factors in this decision. I believe that as I have continued in my studies and developed research, my perception of how to better the world through the arts has evolved. I think going through the process of a doctoral program will further that evolution. And if I may be quite frank again, in my family and where I come from, there are not a lot of black men that reach the level of education that I have reached now. I do not have any idealistic goals of looking like a role model, but I do want to prove to myself and those I care about that achieving something that requires hard work is possible and in no way out of reach.