Arts Administration (AA)
The Arts Administration Minor
Students studying arts administration will learn the importance of leadership roles
that arts executives play in the non-profit arts fields of music, dance, theater and
visual arts. Combining artistic sensibility with business acumen, the program examines
the foundations of non-profit arts organizations including mission development, board
governance, marketing and new media, fundraising and philanthropy, and non-profit
organizational structure. Commercial enterprises including Broadway may also be examined.
Skidmore offers a minor in Arts Administration that consists of core courses from
the Arts Administration Program and electives from other departments across campus.
First-Year students are encouraged to take any of the following courses in preparation
for further study:
- AA-201 Foundations of Arts Administration (Fall 2023, Spring 2024)
- AA-205 Introduction to Financial Management for the Arts or (Fall 2023)
- AA 221 Philanthropy and the Arts: Relationships and Revenue (Spring 2024)
- AA 232 Museums Mean Business (Fall 2023)
- AA 312 Engaging Arts Audiences (Spring 2024)
Students interested in exploring Arts Administration should contract Prof. David Howson, Arthur Zankel Executive Director of Arts Administration, for further recommendations in their specific area of interest: dhowson@skidmore.edu
The Entrepreneurial Artist Initiative
The Entrepreneurial Artist Initiative aims to provide studio art students with the business skills needed to build a successful career around their passion for art making. This is accomplished through course curriculum, workshops, and experiences in the field. Connecting students with entrepreneurial arts alumni, as well as arts and business professionals in the community is an integral component of the program. The initiative is a part of Skidmore's Arts Administration Program and was created and developed by Molly Haley '64. Students interested in participating in the EA initiative should consider enrolling in AA-318 The Entrepreneurial Artist and/or AA-315 Marketplace for Artists. For additional information, contact Prof. Elizabeth Dubben, Entrepreneurial Artist Coordinator and Lecturer: edubben@skidmore.edu.