Course Title: ATA265 ARTS ADMIN & ORGAN STRUCTRURE
ART125 FYS (Freshman and Fall /Only)
Term: Fall

Course Description

This course will provide students with the practical skills required for the successful leadership of arts organizations. Areas covered will include budgeting, marketing/publicity, fundraising, audience development, analysis of financial statements, contracts, board governance, and issues associated with the founding of a nonprofit organization.

 

Course Objectives

1. Develop an understanding of the basics of arts administration. 

2. Develop the ability to discuss the current trends and issues facing arts leaders and arts organizations in 21st century organizations. 

3. Gain an overview of various arts organizations and their structures.

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Course Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic arts administration in written assignments, exams, and through in class discussions, periodic quizzes, and final project. 

2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the leadership aspects of founding and maintaining arts organizations through class discussions and review papers of current trends and issues. 

3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of functions and structures of various types of arts organizations through written reviews from site visits.

 

Artifact Collection

Students will select two arts organizations to follow on social media throughout the semester. You will collect artifacts which document the connection of these organizations to our weekly topics. In addition to collecting artifacts such as screenshots, links,etc. you will be asked to reflect upon and analyze the effectiveness of the methods your chosen organizations utilize to connect with various constituents and the community at large. As the timeline for collecting artifacts closes you will also submit a brief reflection.

 

Submission Overview:

• This should be submitted as a PowerPoint or Google Slides Document

• You can use one or both organizations that you follow for each topic. You can use a mix of the two. Sometimes one has a strength in an area where the other has a weakness. Some organizations share more than others. 

• You can also take a wildcard if you have a topic that your organizations do not share enough information about - pull a current events article instead. 

• Don't forget a brief reflection at the end - based on your observations of your two organizations over the semester.

• You can also take advantage of the notes section of your google slides or PowerPoint file to share additional notes/observations for each weekly topic. 

 

Student Samples

• ArtifactCollection01.pdf

• ArtifactCollection02.pdf

 

Case Study Reflections

Students will reflect on a series of case studies which relate to the current trends and issues facing arts leaders, arts organizations, and artists who work within these systems.

 

Case Study Reflection #1 – Industry Conversations

Watch: Emerging Arts Leaders Symposium

 

Consider:

• Which communities do we feel accountable to? 

• Imagine the last week(s) without the arts...

• There are gestures we will all need to mark that we've come through this. Where do the arts fit? How can we help design our "re-entry" into community contact? 

• How do we make sure we aren't a "fortress" organization? 

• How can we incubate new ideas? 

• What are we learning about the human spirit? 

• Where will the new income emerge? Why should people come back to the theatre, to the gallery, etc? 

• How can we deploy artists not just to make art but to intentionally make culture? 

• How can we use our arts centers not just to show art but to intentionally create community? 

• How can we create a landscape of shared stakes? 

 

 

Reflection Assignment:

As we all watch/listen to this...we may have common takeaways and also there may be points that resonate with you, in particular, that will be different than what resonates with a peer in the class or me. Reflect on what resonates with you. You can respond to any or all of the questions posed. You do not have to respond to all of the questions. Use as many as you wish or take your reflection in your own direction. 

 

You might consider these questions in general...or you might consider them through the lens of the School of the Arts...what can WE do. Who "we" is for your response is up to you.

 

IStudent Samples

• CaseStudyReflection1Sample001.pdf

• CaseStudyReflection1Sample002.pdf

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Case Study Reflection #2: Current Topics in Arts Administration

Find 5 articles reflecting current events/trends that relate to the topics we have covered so far this semester and/or current topics of interest to you particularly. (I recommend using Arts Journal (Links to an external site.).)

 

Submit a link to each article and statement noting why you chose each.

 

Consider: 

• What caught your eye that made you want to click on it in the first place? 

• What can be learned from this? 

• Does it relate to anything we've discussed in class or previous classes? 

• Keep in mind your article might be a lesson on "how to" but the lesson could also be a "how not to."  

• Be sure you are speaking in detail about each article. 

 

Student Samples

• CaseStudyReflection2Sample001

• CaseStudyReflection2Sample002

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Midterm - Grant Panel Assignment

Put yourself in the shoes of a community grant panelist. Review the five grant proposals linked below and determine how you would split a total of $37,000 available to distribute. Submit this to me via this assignment portal. 

 

There is not enough money to fund all grants at their full amount. You must choose who gets how much.

• Your response should not only include the amount, but a detailed discussion of "why" for each one.

• Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each proposal, the project itself, and the impact. 

• Also consider how (or if) your opinion changed after reading the full proposal, in comparison to reviewing the cover sheets with your group in class. 

 

Student Samples

• GrantPanelResponseSample001.pdf

• GrantPanelResponseSample002.pdf

 

Final Project (Paper & Presentation)

The major project for this class involves creating a plan for developing an 

arts organization from the ground up. You will present your proposed organization and turn in a written plan detailing the following about your organization: 

 

1. Mission statement 

2. Facts on the city where this organization is located (population, cultural ratio, existence of other arts organizations in same town, active interest of city and county government, etc.) 

3. Ground plans of the organization’s office / performance space, studios, etc. 

4. Job descriptions for essential staff 

5. Overview of volunteer program 

6. Organizational chart (including board, employees, volunteers, etc.) 

7. Budget overview 

8. Season calendar (include all exhibits or performances, educational programs, outreach programs, 

fund raisers, civic contributions or activities) 

9. PR/Marketing strategies 

10. Fundraising strategies 

11. A five-year long-range plan 

12. One-page written conjecture on how this organization will have a social and economic impact on the local residents. 

 

This assignment will be discussed in further detail throughout the semester and resources will be available on Canvas as discussed in class. 

 

Student Samples

• FinalProjectSample001.pdf

• FinalProjectSample002.pdf