SUNY Potsdam Announces New Baccalaureate Program in Digital Arts Management
Nadia (Nav) Atkinson completes an internship leading a teen summer program at SLC Arts, one of several locations offering placements for students in SUNY Potsdam’s new digital arts management program.
SUNY Potsdam is expanding opportunities for students pursuing careers in the creative economy, with the launch of a new Bachelor of Science degree in digital arts management.
Digital arts management students will develop both creative and management-oriented competencies, preparing them to work across the increasingly interdisciplinary creative economy. The interdisciplinary program combines creative practice, digital media, marketing and organizational leadership, to prepare students for independent careers and positions in arts organizations such as non-profits, museums, theaters, galleries and studios.
Learn more: Digital arts management at SUNY Potsdam
“The updated digital arts management program recognizes that the creative industries have changed dramatically. Today’s arts and design professionals need to understand not only creative practice, but also digital communication, audience engagement, strategic planning, data-informed decision-making, and the management of digital projects and organizations,” said Associate Professor of Art Kathleen Mahoney, who oversees the program. “We wanted to create a program that gives students a strong foundation across these areas, while allowing them to develop expertise that aligns with their individual interests and career goals.”
The program prepares students to hit the ground running after graduation, with field experiences and internships built into the course of study—giving undergraduates the opportunity to work with professionals in the field, and position themselves as creators and decision makers.
Internship opportunities include collaborations with Community Performance Series, the Gibson Gallery, the LoKo Arts Festival, Public Learning, Arts and Community Engagement (PLACE), SLC Arts and other organizations across the region and beyond.
The program addresses a gap in traditional arts management programs by integrating digital production, data information and technology, including design, marketing and management, into the curriculum, Mahoney said. Students will learn to work with multiple stakeholders and diverse audiences, including within culturally diverse professional environments.
“This isn't simply an arts administration degree updated with some digital courses. It's a program designed around the reality that arts organizations and creative businesses increasingly need people who understand both creative practice and digital strategy,” Mahoney said.
At SUNY Potsdam, art students live, create and study in a unique art environment within the context of a stimulating liberal arts tradition. In addition to the new program, the Department of Art also offers undergraduate degrees in art education, art studio, graphic design and new media, and visual arts. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu/art.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.