The University of Texas at Austin has created a new graduate portfolio program in Arts and Cultural Management and Entrepreneurship sponsored jointly by the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and the College of Fine Arts.
This portfolio program is intended for those students interested in the management and governance of cultural organizations such as museums, theaters, orchestras, film societies, heritage organizations and libraries, and/or in the business dimensions of an entrepreneurial artistic career.
The program provides graduate students with an interdisciplinary approach to the theoretical and practical components of arts management by drawing on faculty members from 10 departments across the university.
“This program will be a great opportunity for students to cross disciplinary boundaries and leverage all of the resources of the university,” said Robert Hutchings, dean of the LBJ School. “With around 30 faculty from departments across campus, this program speaks to the LBJ School’s commitment to help students broaden their academic experience and enhance their career preparation through access to portfolio programs and dual degree programs with other departments at the university.”
“This collaboration between the College of Fine Arts and the LBJ School could not be more timely,” said Douglas Dempster, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “We know that more than 20 per cent of the graduates of the College of Fine Arts go on as arts administrators and managers in commercial and nonprofit organizations. We’ll now be preparing them better than ever for those roles.”
With a focus of developing practical skills and experience, the program requires 40 hours of volunteer, paid or internship work with a cultural institution or culture-related program.
Francie Ostrower, professor of public affairs in the LBJ School and professor of fine arts in the College of Fine Arts, is the program’s director.
“Austin holds a wealth of opportunity for hands-on learning for our portfolio program students,” said Ostrower. “In addition to filling a need to bring together emerging artists, managers and policymakers in one academic program, we also hope to further increase visibility and interaction between the university and the arts communities in Austin.”
For more information, visit the Portfolio Program in Arts and Cultural Management and Entrepreneurship Web site or e-mail artsportfolio@austin.utexas.edu.
