The field of Arts Management in the United States enjoys a high reputation and recognition worldwide. This major is dedicated to cultivating students' management and leadership abilities in the arts and cultural sectors, helping them understand and tackle the challenges facing the art industry. Today, we will dissect the US Arts Management major in detail, along with admission requirements and program introductions~ For application details, add CheersYou（清柚教育） consultant: qingyouge23 to get more information!
1. Program Introduction
The US Arts Management major originated in the 1970s, starting from a conference organized by the National Endowment for the Arts. The conference discussed how to cultivate future leaders in the art industry, drawing attention from American universities that subsequently launched relevant training programs.
Arts Management is an interdisciplinary field that integrates theory and application, covering foundational art courses like music performance, painting, dance, and media arts, as well as courses in management, marketing, human resources, marketing strategy, and project management. Economics courses form the cornerstone of the arts management curriculum.
Universities across North America, leveraging their unique strengths, have established distinctive arts management programs, including but not limited to:
Arts Administration / Arts Management
Cultural Management
Stage Management
Theatre Management
Music Business / Music Management
Arts management programs are commonly housed within education or arts (education) schools of comprehensive universities, specialized art institutions, or business/management schools of comprehensive universities.
Arts management curricula in the US tend to adopt a collaborative teaching model. For example, at Carnegie Mellon University, courses are jointly delivered by the College of Management and the College of Fine Arts. In stand-alone art schools, visiting professors are often invited to teach non-arts courses such as accounting and human resources.
2. Comprehensive Universities & Arts Institutions: Program Analysis
- Columbia University — Masters of Arts in Arts Administration
Columbia University's arts administration program integrates art, education, business, and law. Instruction involves the Law School, Business School, and Arts and Humanities College. Required courses include principles of art, law and the arts, business policy, marketing, accounting, and human resources.
Program link:
Curriculum
- Financial Accounting (at the Columbia Business School)
- Capstone Seminar in Arts Administration
- Contemporary Issues in Arts Administration
- Cultural Data and Analysis
- Entrepreneurship in the Arts
- Fundraising
- History and Theory of Arts Administration
- Internship in Arts Administration
- Law and the Arts
- Marketing for the Arts, Entertainment and Culture
- Practicum in Arts Administration
Applying to this university, often considered an Ivy League institution, requires outstanding GPA and strong language proficiency. Although GRE/GMAT scores are optional, CheersYou（清柚教育） recommends preparing and submitting these test scores. Additionally, excellent letters of recommendation and a unique personal statement are crucial components of the application process.
- New York University — MA in Visual Arts Administration (MA)
Program link:
https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/degree/ma-visual-arts-administration
Located in bustling New York City, NYU offers students access to a variety of arts organizations and professionals, engaging in case studies, group discussions, site visits, and applied theory exercises. Moreover, students can participate in international exchange programs, traveling to other countries to observe developments in visual and performing arts. These opportunities significantly broaden students' horizons and experiences, enabling them to better understand and apply arts management knowledge and skills.
Curriculum
- ARVA-GE 2030 Environment of Visual Arts Administration (3 pts)
- ARVA-GE 2109 Digital Technologies and the Art Organization: From Strategy to Practice (3 pts)
- ARVA-GE 2028 Law and the Visual Arts (3 pts)
- Primary Areas of Study
- Arts Management / Arts Market
Two course tracks from different schools
Internship and Thesis
- ARVA-GE 2302 Internship in Art (variable 1-6 pts/semester)
- ARVA-GE 2299 Research in Visual Arts Administration (2 pts)
- ARVA-GE 2301 Final Project (1 pt)
Second field of study
A wide range of electives are available, allowing students to choose based on their interests
- Boston University — MS in Arts Administration
This program aims to develop students' understanding of and research capacity in cultural policy, and offers a certificate program in Fundraising Management to help students gain expertise in that area. Additionally, students can select four required courses from each of two broad groups according to their interests.
Official link:
https://www.bu.edu/artsadmin/academic-programs/arts-administration-degree/
Graduate career paths — sectors/specific roles and average salaries
Relevant internship opportunities are integrated into the curriculum
- All college transcripts
- Résumé/CV
- Personal statement
- Two letters of recommendation
- Official English proficiency exam results for International students
- TOEFL (Internet-based): Minimum total score 84, with minimum section scores: Reading—21, Listening—18, Speaking—23, Writing—22.
- IELTS: Minimum overall band score 6.5, with minimum component scores: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking all 6.5.
- Duolingo: Minimum score 110.
In fact, the Arts Management major does not have a rigid GRE requirement. However, with intensifying application competition, GRE scores may become a mandatory reference standard in the future. Therefore, during the application process, we recommend that applicants carefully verify each target school's requirements and prepare for standardized tests in advance. By studying and preparing for these exams early, applicants can flexibly meet requirements and enhance their competitiveness. It is essential to always monitor the latest requirements of target schools and strictly adhere to all guidelines throughout the application process.
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Master of Arts in Arts Administration and Policy
Program link:
Curriculum
Application materials
Finally, as is our tradition, we share a freshly received admission offer for an Arts Management program from the 23fall cycle
For more application details and school selection advice, feel free to scan the QR code below to inquire~
