So just how do we choose our arts program staff?

The staff who make up a summer camp’s leadership are absolutely essential to whatever that camp stands for – and that’s why we have a clear and uncompromising philosophy when it comes to hiring the program directors who run our arts camps! Here’s what we look for. The essentials. No ifs, no buts! Think of any program director at Centauri, and you’ll see what I mean!

1. They must be good people. Notice how this comes first, before anything else? They must be outstanding role models. People of integrity. Someone we’d be proud to leave in charge of our own daughter. They must also be positive, life-affirming, giving and fun-loving. After all – we’re a camp, too!

2. They must be skilled teachers, able to inspire and enthuse young people, and talented in the passing on of knowledge. They must be willing to grow and learn as teachers, meeting the needs of each person as an individual, whatever their ability and challenges. They must be willing to plan in detail before camp, and adaptable enough to throw plans out the window if the group needs something different. Notice how this comes second, and before arts credentials? That’s because I’ve met plenty of arts professionals who don’t make good teachers. Teaching passion and ability is essential.

3. They must be active in the arts, with a wealth of proven knowledge and skill to pass on to our campers. This is carefully worded. Most of our program directors are arts professionals. Most of them are graduates of top notch arts programs in universities. Most of them have years of experience behind them. ALL of them are knowledgeable and skilled.

4. Our program director team in every session must be ‘balanced’. Plenty of ‘tried and tested’ returners our campers already love, but always a few carefully-chosen new people to infuse our community with fresh ideas. Plenty of very experienced and highly respected professionals, but also some younger professionals who can bring up-to-date knowledge, inspiration and hope for the future of the arts. Most of these younger professionals have been trained, in part, by us. They understand what the arts mean at Centauri – community, personal discovery, collaboration and so on. And they are also excellent role models for our older campers, showing just what ‘making a living’ in the arts really means