What is Arts Management?

Art management is a more complex term than one first imagines, it combines skills in business, communication and the arts to promote all facets of the arts in any size community. Arts managers are responsible for financing and marketing, developing programs, managing facilities, writing grants, and managing personnel to support artists and arts agencies. Art mangers need to reconcile managerial, economic and aesthetic objectives.

Art as a concept here is all encompassing

Art management is a business oriented discipline involved in project management, art strategy and supply chain techniques to control a creative process “Arts”. It supports and encourages cultural creativity with the intent of building firm structures and organization for art. Having the objective of developing and maintaining a business environment in which goals are achieved. Art management is very comprehensive and elaborate at all levels of business – operational and strategic. It deals with developmental programmes in art. Art management can simply be defined as a pool of activities woven closely together to realize specific artistic objectives. It is the preoccupation in the handling, developing and effective management of arts, artists and organizations.

This interdisciplinary major consists of courses in Arts Management; Business, Communication, Anthropology, Art History, Visual Art And Theory (Formerly Fine Arts), Religious Studies, English, French, Hispanic, Geography, History, Linguistics, Philosophy, Mass Communication, Public Administration, Psychology, Sociology, Theatre and Film etc. With this major you will explore the interrelationship of the arts, communication skills, and business constraints that apply to the financing, producing, promoting, and marketing of the arts. In addition to artistic and cultural values, you will learn practical skills of organizational development, public relations, marketing, and leadership in the arts.

Is it only for people in Arts & Management Departments?

Institute of Arts Management & Professionals (IAMPS) training and membership opportunity is open to people from all departments.

What do arts managers do?

Arts managers are the bridge between art, artists, and cultural resources and the public. Duties of an arts manager can include: artistic programming; curatorial research; care and restoration of cultural property; fundraising and development; education and outreach; grant writing; audience development and community engagement; box office and membership management; marketing and public relations; event or performance production management; and advocacy and public policy.

What is the certificate in arts management?

The Arts Management Certificate in Institute of Arts Management Professionals (IAP) brings together diverse areas of study — from performance to history to business. It provides opportunities to learn and develop scholastic, creative, and analytic skills through hands-on learning experiences such as internships, site-specific courses, and special projects. Increasingly, the Institute of Arts Management & Professionals (IAMPS) membership has become more interested and proactive in responding to key issues in the arts and in offering help to arts organizations on management, policy, governance, fund development, and financial issues. As a result of this new commitment, research in the program is growing in both amount and quality. The certificate complements majors in the Human resources management, Strategic planning, visual arts, entrepreneurial development, fund raising, art history, studio art, history, business and government.

Must I be majoring in one of the fields listed above to be in the certificate program?

No, that is not a requirement. The Arts Management Program welcomes students from all majors.

But if I’m not majoring in one of those fields, will the certificate translate into other professions?

Absolutely! Students sharpen skills in Leadership, Writing, Entrepreneurship Development, Communication, Human Resource Management, and strategic planning. These are all desirable attributes in today’s workforce, regardless of the discipline or industry.

What are the career Opportunities?

The demand for creative people with entrepreneurial and administrative skills is on the rise. Organizations in a wide array of fields are looking for leaders who can think differently, integrate knowledge across disciplines, spot and solve problems, and generate new ideas.
The Institute of Arts Management and Professional Studies (IAMPS) program seeks to enhance the skills that employers are seeking: innovative thinking, leadership, adaptability, collaboration and passion. These skills will translate to a wide variety of career paths in the creative and non-profit sectors and beyond. Some possible career options to pursue with this program include:

Executive Director
Artistic Director
Program and Project Directors
Development Director
Special Events Coordinator
Exhibition Planner
Financial Manager
Volunteer Coordinator
Hotel Manager
Education Coordinator
Community and Corporate Relations Manager
Manager of Artistic Outreach
Donor Relations Manager
Grants Manager
Director of Patron Services
Facility Manager Etc…

I want to know more! What’s the next step and who do I contact?
Please contact the Director of Training via training@iamps.edu.ng.