Click here for a sample syllabus for this course

Overview

The nonprofit arts and culture industry generates more than $166.billions of economic activity in the US—approximately $64 billion in spending by arts and cultural organizations and an additional $103 billion in event-related expenditures by their audiences. This activity supports 4.6 million jobs. A report by the Conference Board noted that in addition to the enormous financial impact of the sector, “companies consider the arts to be important in building quality of life, stimulating creative thinking and problem solving, and offering networking opportunities and the potential to develop new business and build market share.”

Business of the Arts (BOTA) is designed to introduce students to the key issues faced by leaders in this important economic sector.

Career Focus:

This course is intended both for students focused on leadership careers in the nonprofit cultural industries and those interested in serving on the boards of arts organizations. The course also provides useful insights and frameworks for students pursuing careers in a range of for-profit creative businesses including film, television, and music.

Course Content and Organization

The course utilizes three approaches to learning—traditional case-based classes, talks by key arts leaders, and consulting assignments with Boston-area arts organizations.

Cases: Cases and required background reading cover leadership issues encountered by an extensive range of arts and cultural institutions both in the United States and abroad (e.g. the Louvre, Jazz @ Lincoln Center, the Los Angeles Philharmonic).

Guest Talks: Students will hear firsthand from a number of case protagonists who will discuss the challenges and opportunities they face as leaders of cultural organizations.

Projects: Students will assemble into five-person teams to work on projects throughout the course. Project partners include a wide variety of Boston-area arts and cultural institutions. Each project will focus on solving a specific and well-defined strategic or operational challenge currently facing the organization. The projects will require extensive data collection and analysis.

Performances: Students will have the opportunity to attend performances by several well-known arts organizations including the American Repertory Theater, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Boston Ballet.,

Non-Disclosure Agreements: Partner organizations will provide student teams with confidential information. Students will be required to sign a confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreement.

Grading / Course Administration

Deliverables: The course will have five deliverables: (1) Team Launch Document (2) Situation Analysis, (3) Preliminary Draft of Partner Presentation, (4) Final Partner Presentation, and (5) Individual Learning Reflection.

Grading: Each student’s grade will be based on (1) Class Participation, (2) Quality of Team Deliverables, (3) Partner Input, (4) Team Member Peer Evaluation, and (5) Quality of Individual Learning Reflection.

Pre-Requisites

None

Cross-Registration

A limited number of places may be available for cross-registrants.

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