Master of Arts in Arts Administration

Curate Opportunities for Advancing in Arts Leadership

Seek Your Advanced Degree With a Renowned University

Success in arts administration demands a dynamic skill set, creative initiative and a commitment to integrity. With the online M.A. in Arts Administration program, you can develop impressive leadership competencies for arts administration careers with a variety of nonprofits.

Throughout this program, you’ll receive support from the program director and faculty members with vast experience in academics and the arts. Tap into their expertise in marketing, law, grant-writing and other practices that apply to arts administration roles.

Winthrop takes a career-focused approach to education, helping you create a professional development plan for outlining your rise into arts leadership.

You’ll take classes in an online format designed to fit your busy schedule. The program also includes a field-based practicum and capstone project, giving you experience in the application of everything you’ll learn. Students must have one year of professional or volunteer art administration experience to apply.

Winthrop is a public, comprehensive university committed to excellence, ranking among the top institutions of our kind in the nation. With our highly qualified faculty and high-quality curricula, we attract a diverse student population dedicated to achievement and social responsibility.

100% Online Courses

Fieldwork and Capstone Project

Duration: 2 Years

Download a Program Brochure

Receive your free program brochure and learn more about Winthrop University’s programs by completing the form below.

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Winthrop’s M.A. in Arts Administration program aligns with guidelines set by the Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE), the leading professional organization in this field.

Learn to Lead Organizations and Advocate for Artists

Winthrop’s experienced faculty instills practical skills necessary for arts leadership, such as how to create strategic plans and advocacy toolkits. You can also tailor your field-based practicum and capstone project for your career goals, demonstrating your newly acquired expertise during a hands-on learning experience.

Join the M.A. in Arts Administration program to take online courses in the following subjects:

Effective Leadership and Management

Delve into the human, structural and operational aspects of leadership within arts and cultural organizations. You’ll explore organizational behavior, strategic planning and governance best practices.

Sustainability: Funding, Development and Grants

Examine the factors contributing to the financial health of nonprofits and artists. You will focus on developing skills for improving organizational sustainability and creating grant applications and development plans.

Community Engagement

Learn how cultural institutions engage their immediate communities, emphasizing the practices of arts councils, government agencies and festivals.

Policy and Advocacy

Examine how governmental and cultural systems influence the arts. This course also explores how policies, technologies and globalization impact artists and arts organizations.

Discover What Makes Winthrop’s Programs More Impactful

Seek your online master’s degree with Winthrop and experience the same rigorous curricula as you would in an on-campus program. Take classes in the format that fits your schedule and get the support to succeed by engaging with our dedicated faculty and your classmates. Many of our programs bolster the coursework with hands-on learning through internships, practica, interactive assignments and capstone projects.

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Transform Your Arts Career Into a Masterpiece

Get ready to advance into leadership roles to support artistic endeavors that match your passion. This online program prepares you to oversee administrative functions on behalf of arts councils, museums and organizations focusing on the performing and visual arts. You’ll also possess qualifications relevant for positions in education, cultural tourism and heritage preservation.

8 Rewarding Arts Careers for Winthrop Graduates

Ranked by average annual salary1

  1. Executive director: $81,476
  2. Public art director: $67,380
  3. Artistic director: $64,692
  4. Grants manager: $60,396
  5. Community outreach management: $56,211
  6. Exhibition/facility manager: $53,879
  7. Arts education coordinator: $52,421
  8. Director of operations: $50,674

Find Out More Now!

Be prepared with the professional skills, creative capabilities, and foundation in ethical leadership you need for success in nonprofit arts environments. For more information about our Arts Administration program, contact Program Director Robert Wildman at wildmanr@winthrop.edu, or Winthrop Graduate School Recruiter Hunter Huggins (MA in Arts Administration ’22) at hugginsh@winthrop.edu.

The Values, Education and Experience That Matter to Your Future

Founded in 1886, Winthrop University provides a distinct, value-oriented education that enables students to thrive in the 21st century. Here, you’ll discover how our commitment to service, excellence, diversity, community and leadership provide a foundation for your professional and personal development, putting you on track for long-term success.

Winthrop is a public, comprehensive university committed to excellence, ranking among the top institutions of our kind in the nation. With our highly qualified faculty and high-quality curricula, we attract a diverse student population dedicated to achievement and social responsibility.

Download a Program Brochure

Sources:

  1. Americans for the Arts. Research Report: Local Arts Agency Salaries. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.americansforthearts.org/.