Everyone’s a critic (but some get paid)

And by the way there’s an arts critic job opening

(in Charleston)

It is not possible to over-use this image.

Good morning. Said job posting came to The Hub’s inbox yesterday as a forward with a link and simple suggestion that it could be good Hub content. That is a regular part of our day and, though often mundane, please don’t interpret that as a complaint. Reader interaction via submissions and tips helps make this thing happen, and we’re grateful.

But this isn’t a link-dump kind of place, and we try to add #content and context. (Plus we enjoy it.) So let’s all pause for a moment and think about what this post is. A consequential daily newspaper in a pretty nice location is looking for an arts critic. Pardon the momentary lapse in decorum, but how cool is that?

In The Hub’s former life, we worked at a performing arts organization that was frequently subjected to arts critics’ observations, praises and admonitions alike. If you’ve not “been there,” it’s the mixed bag you can imagine. But agree or disagree with them, it’s a valuable part of the arts ecosystem… which is why we’re all here. Give thanks that this posting is actually a thing in the age of shrinking newsrooms that hit arts and entertainment writers (though we offer that those aren’t the same things) first and hardest. The Hub applauds added arts coverage and yearns for more.

Just as we beg for more coverage, the arts beg for more engagement. And good critics drive it. They get the conversation started. This isn’t a job for anybody, and the listing gives a nod in that direction with a curt, “This is not an entry level position.” Good critics have wit, wisdom, sharp senses, and the knowledge to make informed opinions. (Just keep in mind they are merely those.) They get you thinking, get you talking, and then get you there for your own critique. But you just won’t be paid for it.

Go here to learn more. The Hub can’t wait to see who’s chosen.