Arts Administration
The arts administration program should prepare arts advocates with excellent leadership, managerial, and administrative skills grounded in respect, deep appreciation and immersion in the fine and performing arts. This program prepares students to influence the artistic life of the communities in which they live.
The Viterbo University School of Fine Arts offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in arts administration. The strengths of the School of Fine Art’s performing and visual arts department and those of the Dahl School of Business are combined with the activities in the magnificent Viterbo University Fine Arts Center to provide exceptional opportunities for the arts administration major.
Today’s arts administrators are challenged to provide leadership in the arts while being able to effectively deal with managerial and administrative functions of the arts organization. The BFA degree in arts administration provides the education and experiences vital in order to succeed in this profession.
Arts Administration (AADM) Course Descriptions
200—Principles of Arts Administration, 3 Cr.
An overview of the field of arts administration, including the basic principles of nonprofit organizations. It will be an introduction to the history, philosophy, practice, and ethics of the profession. Students will also examine the arts as an industry, and gain an understanding of how organizational structures vary according to artistic discipline (opera, theatre, dance) and the difference between presenting and producing organizations. A portion of the course will look at the for-profit arts world as well as other competitors to nonprofit arts, and examine similarities and differences between them.
300—Performing Arts Management, 3 Cr.
Particular problems relating to theatre, music, dance, and presenting organizations will be addressed in this introductory course. Contractual agreements, balancing the necessities of performers and technical staff, scheduling, touring, and coping with performance situations in a presenting house will be addressed. Arts education and outreach and planning repertoire and program development, both artistically and financially, will be included. W (See THTR 300)
340—Arts Marketing Applications, 3 Cr.
Students become comfortable with marketing terminology and concepts. They will understand the importance of branding, messaging, implementation and follow-up. Students will become familiar with the components of a strategic marketing plan and learn how to write a marketing plan. Most importantly, students will understand and experience practical applications of marketing concepts to the everyday reality of the arts world.
350—Managing Visual Arts Organizations, 3 Cr.
This course provides an overview of how fine arts exhibition venues work. Through lectures, discussions, field trips, written assignments and visiting speakers, students will be given an introduction to the basics of managing galleries and museums. Topics include: types of galleries, museums, and exhibition spaces, exhibition development and budgeting, curatorial and design responsibilities for exhibits, collection acquisitions and de-acquisitions, audience education and development, proper handling, preservation and presentation of artworks.
400—Arts Administration Seminar, 3 Cr.
This capstone course is designed to provide the student with a summary experience in Arts Administration. Strategic and practice planning, leadership theory, fundraising theory, as well as job search skills will be addressed. Required of AADM majors. Prerequisite: 300. Restricted to students of junior standing or higher.