Arts Management Career Development

Certificate Program

The California State University, East Bay Certificate in Arts Management Career Development serves both aspiring arts administrators and those currently in the field who are seeking career development opportunities. The program is currently partnered with the CSUEB Continuing Education Nonprofit Management Program. The aim of both programs is to meet the increasingly challenging demands of those who manage cultural and public service organizations.

The arts represent a significant business in California, the USA, and the world. The average growth rate of employment in the nonprofit sector already outstrips that in the business and government sectors nationally. The arts themselves comprise a growing segment of the nonprofit sector. As the needs of arts organizations grow, there will be an increasing need for qualified and knowledgeable board members, administrators, staff and volunteers. In the future, we plan to offer more courses oriented to the commercial arts industry.

The program offers three Certificates -- Arts Leadership, Development for the Arts, and Marketing for the Arts. Students may take one or more. If you complete a course required for one certificate, that course may be applied to other certificates with the same requirement. Anyone may take the courses for continuing education purposes. To pursue a certificate, students must apply and be accepted. Periodic informational meetings and online advising will be scheduled for those seeking to pursue the certificate.

The Arts Management Career Development Program will engage students in practical lessons that apply directly to issues and practice on the job. Classes will be taught by professionals recommended by the CSU Arts Management Partners network.

In order to serve the widest possible audience, the program aims to offer classes online. East Bay residents have the opportunity to take advantage of onsite classes offered by the Nonprofit Management program at the CSUEB Oakland Professional Development and Conference Center which is easily accessible via public transportation or car for those who live or work in the San Francisco and East Bay Area. The program also partners with a network of CSU campuses and affiliated arts organizations that offer related subject matter. By agreement with the Program Director, affiliate courses and seminars may be converted to credit and applied as certificate electives.

Students will be invited to join the online AMCard Students group. This group provides networking opportunities and program feedback. Those who complete a certificate become eligible to join the online AMCarD Partners networking group, including working managers who provided guidance to the program.

Program Objectives

The following objectives are drawn from a range of certificate courses. By successfully completing the certificate, students will understand how to:

• To provide emerging leaders with a thorough grounding in contemporary arts management issues and practices applicable to performing, visual and media arts administration.
• To provide skills and confidence to meet the day-to-day professional challenges of arts administrators, including board development, financial management, fundraising, marketing, communications, human resources, program planning, evaluation, cultural policy, government relations, and contracts.
• To provide the arts a deeper and stronger pool of knowledgeable administrators, managers, staff and volunteers.

Who Should Attend

• Anyone seeking to improve their organizations' effectiveness.
• Those who wish to stay current with best practices and trends.
• Emerging leaders already working in the arts industry.
• Board members, staff, volunteers, and arts patrons.
• Those seeking to enter the arts management field, whether new to the workforce or changing careers.

Program Highlights