Arts Management

The Arts Management Program at George Mason University seeks to advance the management of all aspects of the arts. Our graduates, taught by some of this country’s most outstanding practicing managers and arts leaders, provide for the development and nurturing of artists, audiences, and communities. The Mason Arts Management Program, located in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, offers a 34-credit hour MA in arts management that can be completed wholly online, an MFA with an Arts Management Concentration, an undergraduate minor in arts management, and an accelerated MA 4+1 option.

MA Arts Management:
The 34-credit hour MA in arts management is taught synchronously online and responds to a growing demand for graduates who can manage and coordinate the arts, bridging the world of performing and visual arts with applied managerial skills. The flexibility of this program allows students to complete the program on full-time or part-time schedules. Prospective students who are interested in visiting campus to learn more about the program are encouraged to attend an information session (link: https://artsmanagement.gmu.edu/admissions/information-sessions) or to make an appointment for an individual meeting by [email protected].

MFA — Arts Management Concentration:
George Mason University’s Master of Fine Arts in Visual and Performing Arts (MFA) – Arts Management Concentration is a new 60-credit terminal degree for Arts Managers who wish to innovate arts management practice through research and experimentation. This highly selective and individualized program of study welcomes applicants who already hold an MA in Arts Management or a closely related field. Students may transfer up to 29 credits from an earned Master’s degree into this MFA – Arts Management Concentration, and the program is designed so that it is possible for a student who transfers 29 credits to complete this MFA degree in one calendar year.

Accelerated BA, MA Arts Management:
The Arts Management Program offers an intensive 4+1 program for interested undergraduate students to start working on their master’s degree while they’re completing their bachelor’s. This degree option allows you to combine your creative passion as an artist in music, theater, dance, or art with key arts management skills that will open more doors for your professional success post-graduation. Applicants receive a waiver of the graduate application fee and admitted students may obtain both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree after satisfactory completion of 144-150 credits (number of required credits depends on the degree program). The Accelerated MA option is open to all undergradaute degree programs at Geroge Mason.

Arts Management Minor:
The fields of visual and performing arts offer many career paths that rely on a strong foundation in one or more art forms and require specific knowledge and skills in administration and management. The minor in arts management is open to all majors and requires 18 credits to complete

Dual Arts Management and Art History – MA Program:
This degree option is open to new students, and to students already enrolled in either the Arts Management MA program or Art History MA program. Students can apply up to 6 credits of Arts Management to the Art History degree and 9 credits of Art History to the Arts Management degree. (Art History MA requires a total of 30 credits while the Arts Management MA requires 34 credits).

Non-degree Graduate Admissions:
Admissions options are open to all and allow students access to specific Arts Management graduate courses for non-degree credit. Many times, students go on to complete the graduate application and transfer in their non-degree credits towards the full MA degree. Perfect for adult learners who are returning to the classroom or navigating busy professional and personal calendars.

Learn and Develop the Practical Skills to Build, Sustain and Lead Arts Organizations
Our program is aimed at students interested in nonprofit performing or visual arts management, cultural heritage, and agencies and associations, places a strong emphasis on developing practical managerial skills in financial management, marketing, public relations, governance, fundraising and development, through both classroom study and experiential learning. Management courses are situated in a core framework of classes devoted to understanding the place of arts in society and designed to foster leadership and entrepreneurship in the arts. Internships are an integral part of the arts management student experience at Mason and provide an opportunity to delve deeply into a specific focus area of arts management, while gaining professional experience through meaningful work.

Sample of Core Course Work:
-Fundraising and Development
-Public Relations and Marketing
-Finance and Budgeting for Arts
-Arts Policy
-Governance and Financial Management

Samples of Elective Corse Work:
-International Arts Management – Study Abroad Course
-Legal Aspects in Arts Management
-Grant Writing
-Technology in the Arts
-Arts Entrepreneurship
-Festivals and Special Events

The program is geared toward today’s working professionals, with part-time and full-time plans of study. Candidates are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Work experience is preferred, but not required. It is anticipated that some students will come from the arts community, with experience and training in music, dance, theater, and visual and technical arts and wish to add the skills of marketing, finance, strategy, entrepreneurship, and management to their repertoire. It is also expected that some students will enter with more developed skills in business or other related areas and wish to unite these skills with prior experiences in the arts.

Graduate MA admissions is rolling; however, degree seeking graduate students may only start their studies during the fall semester. Applications open mid-September for the following year and prospective students who wish to have priority scholarship consideration must submit complete applications by March 1 applications close 8/1.

Graduate MFA applications open mid-September and close January 15 for review and consideration of fellowships. Additional admissions materials are needed for any international applications and can be found on the program’s website.