The Growing Demand of the Market for the Arts Industry Products - Essay Example

Arts Administration Introduction Arts administration or arts management started in the United s and Europe when twentieth century came. This wasthe time that people realize the need for management and leadership, especially for professional organizations for the art. There are details that have to be attended to like budgeting, the staff, marketing the events, directing volunteers and even fund raising. These areas require skills that are different from the actual display of artistic capabilities. Thus, the needs called for professional administration (Bonser, 2005). The art industry is said to be undergoing a transitory phase. The growing demand of the market for the arts industry products have brought about changes among the artists and their organizations. Organizations are feeling the need to address the problem of the deficit brought about by the problems in the economy (Bonser, 2005). Arts administrators have been very much needed the past few years in various profit and non-profit organizations dedicated to the culture and the arts. This only proves that the society and the economy that caters to arts are already embracing the business component of their endeavors (Bonser, 2005). Choosing arts administration as a field of study can open up to various possibilities in the arts industry. It also promises a big contribution to the society. Arts administrators, dedicated and well-trained, are expected to help the arts institutions to confront the financial situation and organizational limits and to cater to the interests and needs of the clients and enthusiasts. At the same time, the arts administrators are also expected to have the understanding of what counts in the artistic community (Bonser, 2005). In the United States alone, there are various schools that offer Arts Administration program. These schools and universities offer considerable courses for their students and they have very comprehensive curriculum. These institutions are known for their strong commitment in developing the capabilities and skills of the students, thereby providing a strong support to the current state and the future of the arts community (Bonser, 2005). Fashion Institute of Technology The Fashion Institute of Technology or FIT is located in New York. The school is based in the middle of the city, just perfect for the institute which provides a link between creativity and commerce. It provides academic programs for students who want a career in the arts industry with at least 30 fields to choose from. The courses vary from the Master's to Bachelor's and Associate's Degree. The programs vary. There is the credit certificate program, online course and international programs (FIT, 2006). FIT recognizes the need to go beyond instilling among the students a good background in history of the arts. This is why a number of the programs FIT offers today also teach skills in technology and business. The Fashion Institute of Technology has Associate Degree and Bachelor of Science Degree Programs that have a comprehensive curriculum, covering a specific arts field and the other disciplines required in management for that specific field. Some of these programs are the Fashion Merchandising Management, Production Management and Visual Management. They incorporate the significant resources of the school in the field of Arts and Design, Liberal Arts, and Business and Technology. Through this, school aims to be able to develop the communication and business skills among the students (FIT, 2006). FIT also offers Arts Administration in its Graduate Program in Art Market: Principles and Practice. This was formerly known as the Gallery and Retail Art Administration. It prepares its students for careers in art galleries, auction houses, art market services or public art administration. There are classes in art history and history of collecting. There are also courses tackling practical disciplines like art law, professional ethics, design and management of galleries, business and marketing. Applicants for the graduate program must have a baccalaureate degree in a proper concentration from a recognized university. The applicant must have a grade point average or GPA of 3.0 and a good background in a foreign language to be accepted. There is a preference given for art history majors although those who do not fall under this category can take additional courses. Students of the graduate program are required the following: a scholarly research that will serve as a qualifying paper; an internship for practical and professional experience; a good comprehension and reading knowledge of Spanish, German, Italian or French; final grade point average of 3.0 and completing the 48 units core curriculum (FIT, 2006). Hollins University The Hollins University is founded in 1842 and located at the state of Virginia. It is known for having a good reputation of strength and innovation. Art majors in this university are well-trained to make their rightful niche in the industry. The school focuses on instilling the skills and value necessary to prepare the students in their chosen careers. It has a very strong faculty of known and recognized artists and scholars that are dedicated in research and publication of the arts. There are also trips abroad organized to enable the students to study works of art in other countries and interact with artists of other culture (Hollins, 2006). The university offers a certificate in arts management to students majoring in any art field to explore their opportunities of linking with arts administration. The students are given additional courses in communications and business. They are also given opportunity to fulfill two internships in areas of arts administration. This program shall be completed after with the final project of students to create a contribution to the particular field of their interest. Students find advantage in this certificate program for it allows them to complete the requirements by allowing them to choose electives, separate from their degree. Hollins University also has its own Career Development Center where students are aided in determining their career paths. This center shall also help in ascertaining the perfect internship program so students can get the right real-world, art-related experiences for the Art Management Certificate (Hollins, 2006). The Certificate in Arts Management shall be awarded to any student who shall complete the following requirements: a major in any field of visual or performing arts; two fine arts courses outside their major; twelve units of business and communication subjects; an independent study as the final project; and two internships in arts management area (Hollins, 2006). School of the Art Institute of Chicago The School of the Art Institute of Chicago was founded more than a century ago, beginning its contribution to the arts industry as early as 1866. Today, this facility functions both as a museum and as a school. There are various seminar rooms, studios, galleries, libraries and classrooms that are very ideal for art education. It was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges in 1936 and by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design in 1944. It is recognized and esteemed worldwide as a school of art because of its innovative ideas and programs. The school also provides a trans-disciplinary environment to promote ideas and development of the students in the arts and related professional disciplines (Art Institute of Chicago, n.d.). It is the mission of the school to hone the students to excellence. This is through the global education provided in the fields of design, media, visual and related arts. The major subjects are coupled with studies of history and theory established in a humanistic curriculum. Instructions and education are provided through the spoken, written, media and exhibition format (Art Institute of Chicago's Corporate Charter, 2004). There is a non-discrimination policy implemented in the school when it comes to recruiting and admitting students. It has a First Year Program that provides an intensive education to all forms of media and combining it with a strong ground in the liberal arts like literature, writing and history. The school aims to instill multi-dimensional thinking among its students, to enable them to transform their visions into great works of art and at the same time give artistic products a good future to lean on (Art Institute of Chicago, n.d.). Indiana University The Indiana University or IU has been offering its Arts Administration Program since 1971. Since then, the school trained students in taking leadership in various art institutions. The mission of the Indiana University Arts Administration Program is reflected in its aim to hone students to become leaders that can combine realist and idealist principles, can be mindful of the past, at the same time can plan for the future, and can properly integrate the demands of art and business in the institutions they work for (Indiana University, n.d.). The school seeks to achieve balance in both the artistic and management field of the art industry among the students. This requires study of theory and application to experience. This shall be assured by the attention of the full-time art professional faculty, access to the business industry and good placement programs. IU offers a two-year, multidisciplinary course program. This can be further continued to a Masters degree. This basically requires the student to spend three semesters learning in the campus. The fourth semester is dedicated to an internship program. The core courses can be further accompanied by electives on the business or management that can be easily arranged with the program director (Indiana University, n.d.). The Arts Administration Program of IU is competitive. There are only 15-18 accepted yearly. The program requires the candidates to show the following: an outstanding academic record in an art course - music, theater and drama, dance or visual art - or business course; strong recommendation letters; motivation to work; excellent communication skills; administrative experience; capability to accomplish graduate work and maturity (Indiana University, n.d.). University of Tulsa The School of Art of University of Tulsa is located in Oklahoma. Arts Administration is under the Division of Fine and Performing Arts, allowing the student to freely learn across the disciplines of theater, art, music and film. The school maintains small class sizes for the students to encourage close interaction with the professors. It also has admirable facilities that the students can use at anytime of the day and night, at about the right time their creative juices can be best expressed. Individuals who want to earn a degree from the University of Tulsa must satisfy the three aspects of the Tulsa Curriculum: the Core Curriculum, the General Curriculum and the Area of Concentration. The Core Curriculum will teach the students how to write clearly and critically. Proficiency in a foreign language is also required. The General Curriculum will then provide the students a wide perspective and various methodologies from various disciplines of the arts. The Area of Concentration shall build the necessary skills in the field of major, as supported by the skills learned in the Core Curriculum. This will also enable the student to get a certificate of minor from another chosen field (University of Tulsa, n.d.). The University of Tulsa provides an alcove for artists of all kind, whatever medium the artist uses. University of Kentucky The Arts Administration Program of the University of Kentucky started in 1988. Today, it offers a complete program for undergraduate curriculum. It has an average of 80 to 90 graduates every year. Candidates who have undergone University Studies and college requirements are allowed to apply under the program. The Arts Administration Program is designed to meet the emerging need for professionals in the art industry who have intelligent business skills and a good grasp of the artistic concepts and principles. The program basically aims to make the students equipped in managing arts organization (University of Kentucky, n.d.). The study focuses on the arts and humanities with concentrations in the fields of business and media. The 15-unit pre-major requirement of the program focuses on communication, technology and economic fields before studying the core courses of arts administration. Through this, students are provided with a firm liberal arts education, a basic comprehension of management principles and a comprehensive education in art, music or theater. Some of the business-related courses are taught by the Arts Administration Program faculty, while some may be taught by professors from the College of the Business and Economics and College of Communications. More or less half of the credits under the program are already concentrated in the arts. The students can choose one from the five areas of concentration: art history, art studio, music history, music performance or theater. There is also a strong emphasis in the application of the learning within and beyond the campus through internships, volunteer activities and paid work. The Arts Administration Program shall prepare the students to be skilled individuals equipped enough to take entry-level management positions in arts organizations. (University of Kentucky, n.d.). Conclusion The 1990's witnessed a daunting trend in the arts community where most art materials have gone and past without being properly documented because of the failure of the institutions. This is why art administration graduated is very much needed by the arts community today. Well-trained managers will ensure that great art will survive and flourish. The professional aspect of the art community cannot anymore be undermined in these modernizing times (Bonser, 2005). Art students with a good background in art management can very well enable themselves to conduct a better deal with their artistic ventures. This course can also help them in maintaining their careers. The initiative coming from the education sector must very well assure the arts institutions and enthusiasts that the future of the art community will be in good hands (Bonser, 2005). Works Cited Art Institute of Chicago. School of Art Institute of Chicago Web Site. 2004. 30 May 2006 http://www.artic.edu/saic/about.html Art Institute of Chicago's Corporate Charter. School of Art Institute of Chicago Web Site. 2004. 30 May 2006 http://www.artic.edu/saic/about/mission.html Bonser, Charles. Indiana University Web Site. 26 September 2005. 31 May 2006 http://www.indiana.edu/artsadm/content_program.html Fashion Institute of Technology. Fashion Institute of Technology Web Site. n.d. 30 May 2006 http://www.fitnyc.edu/aspx/Content.aspxmenu=Future:SchoolsAndPrograms Hollins University. Hollins University Web Site. 18 April 2006. 30 May 2006 http://www.hollins.edu/undergrad/artsmgmt/artsmgmt.htm Indiana University. Indiana University Web Site. n.d. 31 May 2006 http://www.indiana.edu/artsadm/content_program.html University of Kentucky. University of Kentucky Web Site. n.d. 30 May 2006 http://www.uky.edu/FineArts/ArtsAdmin/ University of Tulsa. University of Tulsa Web Site. n.d. 30 May 2006 http://www.cas.utulsa.edu/art/ Read More