Web Manager and Freelance Dance Writer
Greater Chicago Area
- Current
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- Web Manager at Chicago Office of Tourism
- Freelance Dance Writer at Time Out Chicago
- Past
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- Co-Curator, Dance for the Camera film festival at Chicago Cultural Center
- Staff Writer at Gapers Block
- Marketing Consultant at Molly Shanahan / Mad Shak
- PR and Marketing Director at Local Infinities Visual Theater
- Education
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- University of Chicago
- New York University
- Recommended
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3 people have recommended Sarah - Connections
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connections
- Industry
- Online Media
- Websites
Sarah Best’s Summary
Sarah is a multi-talented creative professional who specializes in the promotion of the arts and culture through interactive media and the written word.
Sarah Best’s Specialties:
web design, web project management, writing, editorial, marketing, marketing on a shoestring budget, communications, e-mail marketing, information architecture, object modeling, data logic, usability, web 2.0, blogging, dance and theater in Chicago
Sarah Best’s Experience
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Web Manager
Chicago Office of Tourism
(Government Agency; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)
February 2006 — Present (2 years 6 months)
Sarah designs and develops websites to promote diverse cultural programs such as art exhibitions and music festivals, and to market the City of Chicago as a year-round leisure destination. She's also consulted on several multi-agency web development projects, including a new million dollar tourism website for the City of Chicago, and a website for the Chicago Fashion Industry.
Sarah has versatile web project management, design and development skills. In addition to designing and programming websites, she has created and implemented content development plans, has developed information architecture for dynamic websites, educates staff about the latest social networking trends, and finds the right developer or production company to get the job done. -
Freelance Dance Writer
Time Out Chicago
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Writing and Editing industry)
2006 — Present (2 years)
Sarah has interviewed MacArthur award-winning choreographer Liz Lerman, Hamidou Bangoura, Artistic Director of Les Ballets Africains, the national company of the Republic of Guinea, and numerous other local, national, and international dance artists. She's covered breakdancing and butoh, ballet and modern, performance art and vogueing, emerging choreographers and international dance exchanges. See her blog for links to past articles.
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Co-Curator, Dance for the Camera film festival
Chicago Cultural Center
(Performing Arts industry)
October 2007 — December 2007 (3 months)
Sarah co-curated two evenings of local, national and international dance film work in October 2007. The screenings were complimented by a networking reception for local dance artists and filmmakers and a panel discussion, which featured prominent dance film artists and scholars. The second annual Dance for the Camera film festival will be held late October 2008 at the Chicago Cultural Center.
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Staff Writer
Gapers Block
(Online Media industry)
April 2006 — October 2006 (7 months)
Wrote about arts and cultural events and news for the popular Chicago-centric blog. http://www.gapersblock.com
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Marketing Consultant
Molly Shanahan / Mad Shak
(Performing Arts industry)
January 2006 — April 2006 (4 months)
Developed two-year public relations and marketing plan to support the growth and re-branding efforts of Molly Shanahan / Mad Shak, a 12-year old dance company based in Chicago.
Coordinated announcement of company's name change (from Mad Shak Dance Company) to key constituents, including consumers, funders, and media. -
PR and Marketing Director
Local Infinities Visual Theater
(Performing Arts industry)
July 2005 — November 2005 (5 months)
Oversaw media relations for a new performance, Corpus Delicti: Just Desserts, garnering features and reviews in the Chicago Tribune, Time Out Chicago, Red Eye, Chicago Reader (Critic's Choice), and other publications. The performance enjoyed a sold out and extended run.
Developed collateral materials. Secured sponsors. Coordinated a preview for first year medical students, pre-show discussion in a medical student residence hall, and post-show discussions facilitated by artists and medical professionals.
Sarah Best’s Education
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University of Chicago
English Literature, Performance Studies 2002 — 2003
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New York University
BA, British Literature and Cultural Studies, Arts Administration, Creative Writing, 1998 — 2002
Sarah graduated magna cum laude from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University. She took a multidisciplinary approach to the study of British Literature, delivering a senior colloquium on the dinner table in works of literature, film and fine art, as a site of cultural acquisition and ideological rebellion.
As an Albert Gallatin Scholar, Sarah traveled to Thailand, Brazil, and Louisiana on cultural exchange. She spent her junior year abroad in London.
Upon graduation, she received the Herbert K. Rubin award for creative writing, and a Special Service Award for curating a monthly reading and performance series.
Additional Information
Sarah Best’s Websites:
Sarah Best’s Interests:
web trends, usability, accessibility, standards based development, publishing zines and artists books, collecting comic books and graphic novels, photography, performance art, cooking, reading foodie books, visiting the farmer's market, swimming, pilates, watching hockey, Chicago Blackhawks, listening to the Sound Opinions podcast, watching old movies, Doctor Who, Buffy, Harry Potter
Sarah Best’s Groups:
AIGA, NYU Alumni
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Linked n Chicago member -
CHICAGO 2016 Olympic Games Supporters member -
Web Standards Design + Development member -
Chicago Fashion member
Sarah Best’s Honors:
Recipient of a 2006 Community Artists Assistance Program (CAAP) Grant, which supported the publication of a new zine (artist's book)
Sarah Best’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
