Arts Management

This introductory survey provides an overview of creative industries and management theory and principles common in both the nonprofit and commercial sectors, preparing students for upper-level courses in the arts management program. Topics include history of arts management, arts and creativity, leadership and management, business structures, programming, marketing, funding, finance and budgeting, arts advocacy, activism and social justice.

Credits: 4

A student-centered course in which teams collaborate to explore the creative process by envisioning a nonprofit performing or visual arts organization, conceiving it from mission statement to the first body of work. As projects progress, students develop innovative and critical thinking skills while applying basic principles of arts management to sustain their ventures in today’s cultural environment.

Credits: 4

PREREQ: AMG1100

To do more than survive in a competitive economy, artists and their managers must learn business strategies for the financial side of their profession. Students are introduced to the basics of budgets, financial management, and accounting concepts that translate into usable information with practical significance for financial decision-making.

Credits: 4

The ability to communicate effectively is frequently ranked by business leaders worldwide as the most important skill for achieving success. This course develops the written, presentation, and interpersonal skills needed to advance career and business objectives in arts management. Assignments build familiarity and practice in internal and external communication tools and tactics common for informing, engaging, and influencing diverse stakeholders.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG1100

Communicating the power of the arts to enhance the lives of individuals and transform communities is central to the success of artists, arts managers, and arts educators. Students explore U.S. cultural policy, law, social values, and market forces affecting the arts and entertainment industry as they develop a theoretical framework and advocacy skills to support arts participation as a fundamental human right.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG1100

Students build the skills one needs to be an entrepreneur in an increasingly competitive environment by assessing their personal management tactics, developing their communication styles and needs, learning how to personally organize for success, and building skills and strategies to maximize effectiveness. Human resources principles and laws, governance, effective negotiations, decision making, and managing change are also covered.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG1100

In this service-learning course, students design, plan, implement, and manage a mentoring program in art education for middle or high school students. Activities include designing and developing a curriculum, creating and curating artwork, and managing and evaluating the program. Includes an eight-week residency at a local middle or high school, culminating with a public presentation of artwork created by the students.

Credits: 4

PREREQ: AMG1100

A study of fundraising and philanthropy for the nonprofit sector, which includes soliciting charitable donations from individuals and seeking grants, and capital formation for commercial entities, which includes issues of self-financing, bank loans, and investors. Focusing on relationship fundraising and research techniques for identifying prospects, this course also explores the rapidly expanding world of crowdfunding and digital fundraising.

Credits: 3

Covers accounting principles, procedures, and internal controls; forecasting, balance-sheet analysis, and budgeting procedures; financial reporting for both nonprofit and commercial entities; and the development of pro forma budgets for start-up enterprises.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG2200

Students explore communication, collaboration, creativity, and flexibility as the hallmarks of effective management practices, disrupting hidden assumptions and entrenched biases. Coursework critically examines organizational and leadership theory in intercultural perspective to reimagine ethical approaches that are inclusive, adaptive, and transformative. Students explore how to lead and manage enterprises across industries and global landscapes, using critical theories (feminist, race, queer, indigenous).  

Credits: 3

What a creative entrepreneur wants to achieve and how to achieve it are fundamental questions at the heart of strategic planning. This course covers a survey of the theory and practice of planning and evaluation, with topics including: the development of critical issues, goals, and strategies; outcomes research planning; protocol development; and strategic planning from individuals, companies, and cities.

Credits: 3

The most successful arts-based enterprises require collaborations with public and private sectors in diverse fields, including healthcare, education, community development, and social justice. To find relevance in an increasingly competitive world that demands evidence and results, students learn how to structure projects that transcend the insular art world and strengthen the places where people live, work, and play.

Credits: 3

Provides an overview of the principles and purpose and practices of public relations. The history of the field will be explored along with present day messaging, tools and tactics utilized by PR professionals and entrepreneurs supporting projects and events in film, music, fashion, beauty, and otherentertainment industries. Areas of focus will include crisis communications, branding, and buzz generating strategies.

Credits: 3

An introduction to fund development for growing and sustaining businesses in the arts. Topics include prospect research, proposal development, special events, corporate sponsorship, capitalization, and internet-based fundraising. Students also examine the history of U.S. arts and cultural philanthropy. Guest speakers and/or case studies give students an opportunity to apply concepts and techniques to real-world arts organizations.

Credits: 4

PREREQ: AMG1100 And (AMG2200 Or ECO2085 )

An introduction to fundamental legal and business concepts that affect artists and arts managers, with an emphasis on copyright protection and infringement. Students learn the basics of copyright and contract law, analyzing both contracts and case law relevant to the creative industries. Additional course topics include privacy, defamation, moral rights, and free speech protection.

Credits: 4

PREREQ: AMG1100 Or LEG1520

A practicum course in which students engage in negotiations involving artistic activities and creative enterprises. Focuses on legal and ethical questions, with an emphasis on collaborative endeavors. Students develop proficiency in reading and interpreting contracts, as well as basic contract drafting skills, exploring negotiation theory alongside practical considerations such as labor unions, employment law regulations, and intellectual property licensing.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG1100

Students are introduced to StatueFest, a theatrical project inspired by discourse on monuments and the dearth of statues reflecting the lives of women. Exploring the notion “Who deserves a statue?” students research, write and produce monologues celebrating the contributions of statue-worthy women. Guest speakers include librarians, historians and artists from previous StatueFest productions. The course culminates with a public performance.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: WRI1110

Through hands-on experience, students explore roles and responsibilities related to Front of House (FOH) management for performing arts venues. Designed to prepare students to work FOH positions in the Conservatories, PAC and other venues, the course introduces students to FOH strategies and duties before, during and after a performance. Focus is on ensuring the safety and well-being of every patron.

Credits: 2

Provides a global overview of the field of museum education and community-based learning. Museum education is examined in relation to its constituent learning communities, including K-12 classes, tourists, and life-long learners, among others. Topics include: the educational role of museums; participatory approaches to learning; teaching from objects; program creation, implementation, and assessment; and exhibition tour development and execution. 

Credits: 3

A course that introduces students to the history, theory, and practice of visitor research in museums, including how diverse audiences experience exhibition content. Through readings, guest lectures and practical experience with data collection, summative evaluation, analysis and reporting, students learn how to gather information about museum visitor experiences, and how to evaluate museum programming. Coursework includes hands-on museum experience.

Credits: 3

Provides students with an understanding of the occupations and career paths associated with managing creative artists, structures and processes in talent management, and strategies for developing and maintaining an artist/manager business relationship. Geared toward students with an interest in launching an agency or working within an existing firm, and toward individual artists with an interest in self-management.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG1100 And AMG3170

Provides an overview of fundamental concepts and strategies necessary to build diverse audiences for a variety of arts experience. Topics include market research, audience segmentation, and application of the “4 P’s” of marketing strategy in an arts context. Students develop the knowledge and communication skills to conceive, develop and report a strategic plan to promote an arts event or business.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG1100 Or COM1500

Students learn the fundamentals of operating commercial art galleries, including curating, artist contracts, and developing client relationships. Additional topics include connoisseurship, detecting fakes in the secondary (antique) art market, and the current regimen of high-profile art fairs. Texts, class discussions, and practical assignments are applicable to a wide variety of visual arts–based careers.

Credits: 3

Offers an in-depth introduction to curatorial practice and examines the art of exhibition creation from a cultural, theoretical, and pragmatic perspective. Students study the historical and cultural trajectory of curators-as-connoisseurs in Western societies and current practices and trends in art museum curatorship.

Credits: 3

A survey of the theory and practice of planning and evaluation as they relate to social and creative entrepreneurship. Topics include lean start-up principles, minimum viable product, goals, strategies, and research and development for social enterprises.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG1100

Social media is integral to effective business communication and marketing. Students develop and analyze social media strategies, content and campaigns while gaining a better understanding of how to build individual and organizational brands utilizing social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Snapchat. Other topics include influencer campaigns, budgeting, analytics, and split testing.

Credits: 4

Using a hands-on approach, this course explores digital marketing campaigns in the arts. Topics include Facebook, Twitter, blogging, microblogging, video and photo sharing, search engine optimization (SEO), mobile/location-based platforms, virtual realities, and social media integration, strategies, and tactics. Viral theories, trends, and case studies are also explored.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG1100

Presents legal issues that have an impact on entity creation and maintenance in the arts and culture sectors. Issues include copyright and fair use, contracts, patents and trademarks, employment, ethics, and compliance. Students identify and express an understanding of legal issues in crucial areas of the law that affect arts management, arts professionals, and the arts generally.

Credits: 3

It is critical for students in the arts to imagine new cultural landscapes and develop fresh ideas for revitalizing the impact of the arts in society. In this course, students explore and shape innovative, creative ideas; learn how to develop and mold them into feasible forms; and then build both linear and nonlinear business plans for their new projects and enterprises.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG1100

The most successful arts-based enterprises require collaborations with public and private sectors in diverse fields, including healthcare, education, community development, and social justice. To find relevance in an increasingly competitive world that demands evidence and results, students learn how to structure projects that transcend the insular art world and strengthen the places where people live, work, and play.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG1100

Examines nonprofit fundraising and capital formation for commercial entities, including the rapidly expanding world of crowdfunding and digital fundraising, with focus on relationship building and techniques for identifying sources of both earned and contributed revenue. Students learn accounting principles and financial reporting for both nonprofit and commercial entities and develop pro forma budgets for startup creative enterprises.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG1100 And (AMG2200 Or ECO2085 Or AMG3030 )

Students explore the creative process by envisioning and developing a visual or performing arts project. Participants build innovative and critical thinking skills while applying basic principles and practices of arts management including fund development and marketing needed to connect and sustain their ventures in today’s challenging marketplace. The course culminates with a public presentation of individual and team projects.

Credits: 3

Audiences are increasingly seeking creative experiences that are multi-disciplinary, thematically constructed, actively engaging and convenient. Students explore the curatorial process for the live performing arts across the non-profit and commercial sectors. Resources, internal and external factors and strategies that guide artistic planning are among topics examined and applied to a range of real-world scenarios and projects.

Credits: 4

Exploring the exhibition within new museology, students are introduced to key concepts and practices in museum and exhibition interpretation. Coursework examines the history of exhibitions, what it means to be “exhibition literate,” and how interpretive meaning is inscribed onto museum objects or exhibition content. Students gain hands-on collaborative experience creating interpretation for an exhibition.

Credits: 3

Students examine and interrogate commonsense distinctions between ‘traditional’ museums and other spaces of cultural-historical exhibition. The aim is to partner with local communities to mount shows that resonate with community aesthetic, political, social and ecological concerns and, in the process, teach apprenticing curators how cultural institutions might become more inclusive and achieve relevance in the daily lives of their patrons.

Credits: 3

A survey course that reviews economic and financial aspects of the film, music, performing arts, sports, radio, and broadcasting industries.

Credits: 4

This course emphasizes the importance of integrating interdisciplinary perspectives in problem-solving, as well as combining academic and experiential learning in confronting real-world challenges. Students will reflect on the meanings and purpose of higher education as a community of learners, will engage in a variety of activities designed to strengthen academic skills, and will address contemporary social issues from cross-disciplinary perspectives.

Credits: 3

Examines the intersections between culture, art and coloniality, with emphasis on freedom movements and abolition. How are the arts used as a tool to decolonize the spaces we inhabit and uncover blind spots of colonial legacies? Students explore world settings where art figures prominently in decolonization efforts, contemplating the role of archival documentation, museum collections, and exhibitions for reproducing colonialities.

Credits: 4

Examine the histories and meanings of public art from interdisciplinary perspectives. How does artistic expression intersect with public planning to cultivate civic space and democratic participation? Coursework explores how artists, urban planners and architects of the built environment come together to inform the publics, engage in civics, and create public realms that reflect diverse communities of belonging.

Credits: 4

Examines copyright law in artistic practice from a global and multidisciplinary perspective. Students examine rules that govern the protection of creative work and explore the role law plays in mediating questions of authorship, attribution, and creative control. Coursework covers applications of copyright in music, visual art, performance, literature, video games, fashion, and social media. Students engage in legal analysis and artistic experimentation in parallel.

Credits: 3

An introduction to stage management, production, and company management. Students who successfully complete this course may be allowed to take TDT 2600.

Credits: 3