A first of its kind program, this innovative MA is designed for a new generation of artists and creative professionals who are looking to build the foundations of a critical artistic practice alongside familiarity of how arts organizations function and entrepreneurial acumen.

This program merges studio practice from the Art, MFA  program along with the Center for Business and Management of the Arts (CBMArts) with coursework in contemporary art history and theory, law, arts markets, the dynamics of arts institutions and cultural policy. Students are given a studio and begin producing installation work in their first semester to begin the process of group critique and to get accustomed to CGU’s art community. In semesters two and three, students work one-on-one with art faculty to develop independent practice. In contrast to a conventional MFA, however, candidates for this degree pursue an entrepreneurship sequence as well, capped by Seven Steps to Startup, in which creative initiatives of all sorts are planned.

Understanding the culture of the studio and the kind of work, planning and management required to engage in ambitious artistic projects, either at a large scale or over long periods, is more necessary today than at any time before, whether students are the artist making the work, the curator commissioning it, or the arts administrator charged with turning it into a reality.

Admissions Requirements

Admission requirements are detailed in the Admissions section of the current Policies and General Information Bulletin. Criteria for admissions include the high probability of students’ success in graduate study and their potential to thrive in subsequent professional careers following graduation. In keeping with the philosophy of Claremont Graduate University and CBMArts, the admission decision is individualized and based on a wide range of information about the applicant, rather than on rigid, pre-selected criteria.

Curriculum

The Master of Arts in Arts Management and Fine Art is a 48-unit MA degree that combines 24 units of required coursework from the Arts Management program, 20 units from the Fine Art program, and 4 Transdisciplinary studies units.

Capstone

Entrepreneurship Sequence

Research, design, plan, and pitch a new venture for the arts and cultural sector.

Your venture can stand independently of existing arts institutions and businesses, or it can propose innovations for existing organizations. New ventures can be for-profit firms or nonprofit initiatives, or something in between (such as public benefit corporations). Develop comprehensive and persuasive arguments for why your new venture will positively impact the sector and attract the necessary resources and support to get it off the ground.

Arts Management on Site

Travel is an integral part of all CBMArts programs. Subject to CGU health and travel guidelines, all students will be automatically registered for Art Management on Site in the program’s second semester. These study trips offer unparalleled access and exposure to the arts and cultural leadership, and infrastructure of cities other than Los Angeles. As such, they are considered integral to the CBMArts curriculum.

To resource these trips, every student is required to pay a travel fee in addition to tuition. This fee is not optional, nor is it refundable except in extraordinary circumstances and with an appeal filed with CBMArts administration and the full support of the CBMArts Director.

CBMArts organizes all travel, including transportation, lodging, site visits, and in some cases, meals. Students will be notified of itinerary and travel arrangements as soon as they have been confirmed.

The program cannot make individual arrangements for any student travel. If you need to arrange for different flights, trip extensions, or any other deviation from the group itinerary, you must do so on your own and at your own expense. There are no exceptions to this policy.

University Policies.  Policies detailed in the current Policies and General Information Bulletin apply.