The Lamar Dodd School of Art and the Hugh Hodgson School of Music are pleased to announce the opening of the UGA Arts Career and Entrepreneurship Space (ACES). The mission of ACES is to provide comprehensive career support for students seeking a future in music and/or art/design by identifying professional objectives, building career skills, opening opportunities, preparing job applications, developing marketing and promotional strategies, organizing internships, launching entrepreneurial ventures and websites, raising funds, producing concert events and tours, etc. ACES is central to the unfolding vision of the arts on the UGA campus and serves more than 1,000 students across the arts disciplines, including theater and dance. ACES is housed in the third floor office suite area in the Dodd and is led by two recently-hired co-directors:

Tif Sigfrids is owner of the eponymous Tif Sigfrids Gallery, which recently relocated to Athens from Los Angeles where she managed the careers of prominent artists, worked in advertising and marketing, and collaborated with other galleries and non-profit institutions. She has also worked as director and studio manager in a variety of other galleries, including the Thomas Solomon Gallery (LA) and Robert Therrien Studio. Sigfrids has significant experience in development and curatorial work, including auctions, transport, and financial and event management. She is the recipient of multiple international research grants through both the Danish and Norwegian cultural ministries and has lectured on many university campuses. Sigfrids holds a BA from University of California School of Arts and Architecture.

Mark Mobley has diverse professional experience, having worked as music producer of NPR’s Performance Today, as Director of Community Engagement for the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Editor-in-Chief of CD Review Music & the Arts, and as host/producer for an alternative music program for a Virginia NPR affiliate. He has produced and compiled CDs for NPR and Sony Classical, served as lecturer and scriptwriter for prominent orchestras and performing arts groups, and as editor, writer, and commentator for NPR. He has also performed widely as a narrator in festivals and with ensembles. He is a winner of the ASCAP/Deems Taylor Award and has received awards from the Peabodys, the Black Media Professionals of Hampton Roads, Virginia Press Association, and was a fellow with the National Arts Journalism Program of the Pew Charitable Trusts. Mobley holds a bachelor of music in percussion performance from Florida State University and master of music criticism from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.

These experienced directors will collaborate with the faculty and students of the Schools of Art and Music to connect students with arts organizations, performance and exhibition opportunities, grants, and industry and non-profit groups that will provide valuable experiences and career connections for UGA's emerging creative professionals.