Arts administration

Arts administration is a college or university discipline which prepares people for careers as arts administrators and managers of arts and cultural organizations such as orchestras, theater companies, or museums. While programs in arts administration draw on many elements of related administration fields, such as business administration, they also include specialized courses on administering non-profit art and cultural organizations.

Programs

Arts administration programs award a range of credentials, including certificates and diplomas, Bachelor's degrees, and Master's degrees. These programs usually blend curriculum elements from existing administration programs such as public administration, business administration, and management. Indeed, in some universities, the arts administration program is a specialization within the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Many arts administration programs include a practicum in which the student volunteers or works in an arts or cultural organization to gain practical experience.

Arts administrators

Arts administrators work for arts and cultural organizations such as theaters, "...art galleries, museums, arts festivals, arts centres, arts councils, regional arts boards, dance companies, community arts organisations, disability arts organizations and local authorities." [ [http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p!eipaL?state=showocc&idno=61&pageno=1 Arts administrator: Job description and activities ] ]

An arts administrator in a small organization may do marketing, event booking, and handle financial issues. An arts administrator for a larger arts organization may be responsible for buildings and facilities, creative staff (e.g., performers/artists), other administrative staff, public relations, marketing, and writing reports.A senior level-arts administrator may advise the Board of Directors or other senior managers on "strategic planning and management decisions." [ [http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p!eipaL?state=showocc&idno=61&pageno=1 Arts administrator: Job description and activities ] ]

Programs

Arts administration programs are available at a number of universities and colleges in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia. Some academic units offer certificate programs for practitioners seeking continuing education or professional development education.

References

[http://www.artsmanagement.net Arts Management Network] International information service for arts administration.
[http://www.artsadministration.org Association of Arts Administration Educators] An international association of degree-granting programs in arts and cultural management.
[http://www.encatc.org European Network of Cultural Administration Training Centres]