“Arts Management? What’s that?”

So here’s the funny thing, not even creatives know what arts management is or what an arts manager does – far less for persons in non-creative fields. No, it’s not talent management. An Arts Manager can be a Talent Manager but a Talent Manager isn’t necessarily an Arts Manager. Arts Management is that sweet spot where creativity meets business, and honestly, the degree titles don’t always make things clear! Similarly, we’ve all seen those fancy-sounding job titles, right? Like “Chief Conductor of People” (which, let’s be real, is just an HR Manager). Similarly, sometimes degrees are a little… extra.

So, when I tell people I did a Masters in Arts Management, I often get a puzzled look. That’s why I wanted to break down what it actually means.

The simplest explanation is that it’s essentially an MBA with a specialization in Creative Industries.

What did I study?

Think of it as an MBA for the creative world! We dive deep into business principles, but with a distinct focus on the unique challenges and opportunities within arts and cultural organizations.

To make it easier to understand, here’s a comparison of the core courses that are part of both Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and Masters of Arts Management (MAM) programs:

What can you do with an Arts Management background?

The possibilities are vast! Because of the specializations the degree has examples of Arts Management careers can include:

• Marketing Manager
• Arts Administrator
• Creative Director
• Exhibition Manager
• Executive Director
• Chief Development Officer
• Project Manager
• Talent Manager
• Community Program Director
• Director

I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion around the Arts Management degree! It’s a challenging but incredibly rewarding field that allows you to combine your passion for the arts with the practical skills of business.

Comment below if you’d like me to do a listing of schools that teach Arts Management.