Entrepreneurship in the Arts

Students learn and practice creative thinking, ideation, and business planning; and embark on an exploration of both commercial and nonprofit entity models, their governance/organizational structures, and funding mechanisms. Students explore and shape innovative creative ideas, learn how to develop and mold them into feasible forms, and build business plans for their new enterprises.

Credits: 3

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

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

A series of highly successful entrepreneurs from all aspects of the arts, both commercial and nonprofit, and from a variety of art forms, are presented in an interview/interaction format. Students analyze case studies and then develop comparative papers and projects that assist them in shaping their own ideas in entity creation.

Credits: 3

PREREQ: AMG5000

A survey of the theory and practice of planning and evaluation as they relate to arts programs. Topics include the development of critical issues, goals, strategies, outcomes research planning, and protocol development.

Credits: 3

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

This course continues the work from Start-Up Capital Formation, but expounds on learning and experience from weekly guest lecturers with specialized funding and investment focuses. This course will build on the knowledge gained in the first year of the program and provide a more in-depth and real-world exposure to a range of commercial and non-commercial funders.

Credits: 3

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

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

In the capstone project for the program, students create an entity that is a demonstration of readiness and capacity to engage responsibly and creatively in his or her profession. Students’ projects will exhibit discernable innovation; thorough and research-grounded market feasibility testing; and a concomitant business plan that, among its elements illustrates how capital will be amassed for initial implementation.

Credits: 3