B.A. in Arts Management
Nearly one-third of the students who attend SUNY Potsdam major in the arts. Our new Bachelor of Arts degree in arts management allows you to both study the art form you love, and acquire the management knowledge and communication skills needed to successfully make your way in the creative economy. Be prepared to be engaged! All arts management students are required to either minor or double-major in an arts discipline, and all majors will complete capstone projects and internships in the field.
Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- analyze basic financial policies and procedures for arts institutions and create a budget (income, expenses) for an arts based project.
- create a marketing plan and design and distribute basic materials which demonstrate best practice promotional strategies for arts organizations.
- design effective grant and fundraising proposals (individual, corporate sponsorships).
- examine the types and organizational structures of arts institutions and the practices of managerial leadership applied working in the day-to-day operations of these businesses.
Career Outlook

Employment in arts management-related fields is projected to grow 3-6 percent over the next 10 years. Significant job opportunities are also available in the nonprofit sector. According to a study by Americans for the Arts, in 2015 arts organizations—performing and visual arts organizations, festivals, public art programs, municipally- owned museums and arts centers, and more—pumped an estimated $63.8 billion into the nation’s economy. Spending by nonprofit arts organizations alone supported 1.15 million jobs (0.83 percent of the US workforce)— more jobs than that of the legal or public safety sectors.
Inquire today:
With an emphasis on hands-on learning, SUNY Potsdam's arts management program has been the perfect fit for Madi Bray-Trophia '22. Learning the nuances of writing grants and developing her own business plan laid the foundation for real-world experiences at the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions (MONC), and an internship at the St. Lawrence County Arts Council—experiences she hopes to parlay into a career working for an arts non-profit organization.
“I've been involved in orchestras since I was nine years old, and now I get to understand the inner workings of the industry that I've been a part of for most of my life. This degree program has offered me a lot of real-world scenarios like creating my own arts-based organization and the skills set that I can directly apply to my career.”
Arts Management Major