Faculty member Joshua Vink (center), the coordinator of SUNY Potsdam’s new arts management program, teaches an arts fundraising class in the Performing Arts Center.
The State University of New York at Potsdam is set to launch a long-awaited baccalaureate program in arts management beginning this fall.
SUNY Potsdam’s new Bachelor of Arts degree program in arts management has been several years in the making, and focuses on preparing students to be administrators of creative institutions and successful managers of their own artistic careers.
Coursework in business, communications, marketing and administration will give students the skills they need to succeed in highly competitive fields, and pursue careers with non-profit organizations and businesses, such as arts councils, museums, theatre and dance companies, artist management or publishing firms.
“We are thrilled to announce the College’s new major in arts management. It’s a natural extension of the culture of creativity that we thrive on here at SUNY Potsdam. With many of our alumni already building successful careers in the field, we are confident that our arts management graduates will be well-prepared with the entrepreneurial skills, artistic craft and creativity they need to succeed in a rapidly-changing economy,” said President Dr. Kristin G. Esterberg.
The arts management major includes courses and practicum classes in the principles of arts management, grant application writing, fundraising, marketing, public relations, professional communications, art history and museum studies.
Unique to SUNY Potsdam’s program, all arts management students will be required to develop their own artistic practice, by either majoring or minoring in a creative discipline, such as visual art, creative writing, theatre or dance.
“The arts industry is a multi-billion-dollar sector of the U.S. economy. It is an exciting time for this major to come to SUNY Potsdam, preparing our students to compete in this important sector and contribute to economic development, education, cultural enrichment and arts outreach—ultimately bolstering organizations and revitalizing communities,” said program coordinator Joshua Vink, who is a lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Dance.
SUNY Potsdam already has an arts management minor, which has proved very popular, and many students in that program plan to declare a major as soon as the program officially launches this fall, Vink said.
Internships and capstone projects form the backbone of the new arts management major, giving students the opportunity to utilize their skills in real-world settings. As part of their four years of study, students will have the opportunity to intern at local, regional and national arts and cultural organizations. These internship placements will expose students to the fast-paced day-to-day operations of arts institutions.
SUNY Potsdam’s hands-on learning environment will allow arts management students to learn how to become effective leaders and entrepreneurs, Vink said. In doing so, they will also learn how digital technologies influence the art world and enhance the functionality of creative businesses and non-profit organizations.
Job opportunities for arts management graduates include building a career as an independent artist, or working for galleries, museums, publishing firms, performing arts companies, film festivals, arts councils, philanthropic foundations, or educational/governmental institutions. The program also prepares students for graduate study in multiple disciplines.
SUNY Potsdam’s new arts management major also complements the existing music business major offered at The Crane School of Music. Graduates of Crane’s music business program have gone on to successful careers in the music products and recording industries, as well as in arts administration.
In addition to receiving approval from the State University of New York and the New York State Department of Education, SUNY Potsdam’s arts management program is accredited by the National Association of the Schools of Theatre. The College was also recently welcomed as a new member of the Association of Arts Administrator Educators.
The arts management program is accepting applications now for the program, which will officially begin in Fall 2018. To apply, visit https://www.potsdam.edu/admissions/apply.
For more information on the arts management program at SUNY Potsdam, visit http://www.potsdam.edu/academics/interdisciplinary/baartsmanagement.
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of only three arts campuses in the entire SUNY system. SUNY Potsdam’s arts curriculum offers the full palette: music, theatre, dance, fine arts and creative writing. No matter the discipline, people from all backgrounds can find their creative compass at Potsdam, with myriad arts immersion experiences available for both campus and community.