UMD’s School of Fine Arts adds new Art Administration major
Courtesy of the University of Minnesota Duluth School of Fine Arts
Starting in Fall 2020, the UMD School of Fine Arts (SFA) will offer a new major for students. This major, Art Administration, is the first of its kind in the state of Minnesota and looks to expand the way SFA students can utilize their education and use it in the real world.
The Art Administration is active as of March 2020. The major is available to both new UMD students coming in the Fall and current UMD students looking to change theirs. That process will be facilitated by Academic Services Specialist Lindsay Brown at SFA Advising and Academic Services.
Dr. Jefferson Campbell, the interim associate dean at the School of Fine Arts, stated that despite a late acceptance of the major, SFA plans to recruit students to the new major consistently immediately.
“We are aiming for 10-15 majors this first year,” Campbell continued, “with 25-30 each consecutive year.”
Dr. Jefferson Campbell, courtesy of the University of Minnesota, Duluth
According to Campbell, Art Administration combines the artist world with a business and project management approach. This applies to many areas, including art galleries, theatres and concert halls.
“Arts Administration is the day-to-day operational management of organizations that specialize in arts delivery, presentation and mission,” Campbell explained. “An arts administrator handles the overall direction and vision of the organization based on its mission, and works with development, community engagement, financial management, marketing, and personnel decisions.”
Campbell also noted that in addition to existing courses, new courses will be added to fill out the needs of the new major. These courses, and the major, will be open to all and Campbell also noted they won’t be exclusive to creative artists. Instead, SFA wants any and all students with a desire to learn to take part.
“We saw an opportunity to create a program for students interested in the arts,” Campbell continued, “who seek to play a larger role in the administration of the arts beyond being a performer or maker and find fulfillment in furthering the arts.”
The Art Administration major, the only of its kind at the undergraduate level in the state of Minnesota, will begin operating this fall. It will be the thirteenth major offered by SFA.
“We’re extremely excited about this new program,” Campbell added, “and the broader impact the program will have in the region and nation once our graduates are in the field.”