<p>Slightly unrelated but don't know where else I can put this except for all the art subforums. I'm thinking of pursuing an arts management major however I don't know how useful it really is, as in, would it really help me land a job in one of the arts institutes or not? (Sorry to sound pragmatic and cynical here!) I'm actually a musician, but I love things arts related, including fine art and theatre and musicals, so I think I might really enjoy studying arts management, but I just want some opinions from you well-informed people here. Would also like suggestions of which colleges have good arts management courses (or related courses.) Thank you!</p>
<p>Edit: I'm also aware that it's usually provided as a Masters program. If so, what are related undergrad programs?</p>
<p>pbm, if by arts management you mean you might want to work at art museum on the administrative or fundraising side (as opposed to curatorial) then you don’t have to limit yourself to a specific arts management program, especially for your undergraduate program. Any college with a strong art history program could lead to the administrative side of museum management. I would think the same would apply to theater and music management though I’m less familiar with those career paths.</p>
<p>Some schools with strong art history programs and good career networks at museums are Williams, Wesleyan, Skidmore, Hamilton, Vassar. If you are female, Smith and Bryn Mawr. Most of the Ivy League qualifies as do most academically rigorous research universities. </p>
<p>If you look at the educational backgrounds of the directors (again, non-curatorial) of top museums across the country you will see that their alma maters are quite varied. Some have advanced degrees in arts management, some law, some business. All have been involved in some area of the arts and/or public service – museum work, fund raising, festival organizing – as an adjunct to their academic studies.</p>
<p>Running a museum or an arts foundation involves a good balance of financial and organizational skills plus the ability to understand and interact with creative types – in other words strong diplomatic skills.
The key is to research the internship and networking opportunities offered by the undergraduate school. I can vouch for Williams in this regard. There are many others: CMU is especially notable.</p>
<p>momrath - So I’m guessing if I want to work on the curatorial side I will have to study something along the lines of Art History for my undergrad degree? Thanks so much for your advice :)</p>
<p>Yes, curators almost always have PhD’s (or at least MAs) in art history. Directors or business managers may or may not have art history degrees. Increasingly, we’re seeing directors with more diverse educational backgrounds – just to name a few examples business, law, architecture, art studio, public works – whereas in the past they usually worked their way up along curatorial channels.</p>