Arts in Action explores the everyday application of art around us. Students will consider how art communicates messages about community and culture, social issues, and societal change. Focusing on art outside the traditional exhibition and performance space setting, students consider how art helps society navigate personal and community concerns. Attention to the arts administrators who pursue these endeavors is also explored.
This course provides students with a working knowledge of technological concepts and essential skills necessary for working and communicating in today's arts organizations. Students will learn to create, organize, and communicate information through technological tools most commonly used in the field. Utilizing word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, design software, students will design content for social platforms, create effective infographics, build and utilize spreadsheet formulas, generate charts and graphs, and produce public communication pieces.
A successful organization will have a beautiful and creative online presence through the digital realms of blogging, eNewsletters, and website design. In AAD 260: Digital Design for Arts Administrators II, students will explore topics such as branding, marketing, color theory, and digital analytics. Specifically, students will learn the process of designing, building and maintaining a website that meets an organization's needs. The course will also examine the legal, philosophical, societal and technological issues relevant to delivering information in the 21st century.
This course introduces the concepts, tools, and strategies used to explore and obtain arts administration-based internships and jobs. Students will build resumes, write cover letters, develop an online professional profile, and practice interviewing and job fair skills. Additionally, students will examine workplace skills including professionalism, networking, and managing workplace challenges.
Arts organizations are inherently collaborative. Arts administration students need to understand the concepts and theories of leadership, management and followership in order to contribute effectively in the ever-changing and adaptive environment of arts organizations. AAD 300: Management and Planning for the Arts will explore the principles of arts management, management theory and practice, organizational structure, organizational culture and communication, decision-making and accountability, human resource management and volunteer administration, and ethics and social responsibility.
Arts Administration Business Communications introduces students to a variety of technical and business writing theories and practices as they apply in the field of arts administration. The course introduces students to different communication styles and dynamic processes through the application of a variety of communications techniques including verbal, nonverbal, written, visual, listening, and technological communications. Students will apply business communications principles in the creation of business documents and both oral and visual presentations.
In the United States, a significant amount of nonprofit arts organizations' income comes from unearned revenue through fundraising. Without substantial knowledge and skills specific to fundraising in the nonprofit sector, arts organizations may not be able to sustain themselves long-term. This course prepares students to understand the function of fundraising in arts organizations and helps them pursue careers in fundraising and development within the nonprofit arts sector.
Financial management is a core function within the management of cultural and arts organizations. It is the foundation upon which the resources (human, physical and financial) of any organization are maintained and monitored. In the nonprofit sector, the relationship of "mission to money" is an important conceptual framework, and must be understood by arts managers. Financial analysis is an essential requisite for sound strategic planning and governance, and managers of nonprofit arts organizations are the source of financial information.
Emotional intelligence (EI) is arguably the most important key to success in one's career and personal life. This course continues the exploration of research and theories of EI, the various dimensions of EI, and EIs applications in the arts. Students will examine their own EI through a variety of self-assessment tools, activities, and exercises. Students in this course will focus on their development of social skills as well as social relationship management and social responsibility.
Arts programming and events are at the core of all arts and cultural organizations. AAD 390: Programming and Event Planning will prepare students for planning and implementing arts programs and events by considering organizational mission and vision; planning processes and logistics; collaboration and individual responsibilities; marketing and fundraising strategies, budget management; and evaluation. Students will be introduced to relevant programming theory and research methodologies for planning and evaluating arts programs.
