Courses & Programs

Why choose Arts Administration

The Arts Administration Program provides you with the knowledge, the tools and the connections to manage your artistic career or to become a leader in the arts sectors. Our program offers the perfect blend of courses in Arts Administration, Arts (fine arts, music, drama, film studies and heritage) and Business, completed with six credits of experiential learning on and outside the campus. 

Through this, you will:  

• Acquire a solid base in business administration.
• Hone your artistic skills and sharpen your knowledge of different art forms.
• Get a better comprehension of the art world: the process of creating, the demands of producing, the role of the artist in history and in contemporary society.
• Master the nuts and bolts of how to start and run a variety of arts organizations.
• Learn how to fundraise at the private and public levels.
• Develop specific communication and marketing techniques for the arts.
• Understand international market development for the arts.
• Access a vast professional network to help you land the perfect internship, the perfect job.

Everything in the curriculum is designed with one goal in mind: to prepare you to lead a long, exciting and rewarding career in the art world. In addition, here at BU, you will be part of a passionate multidisciplinary community with plenty of hands-on opportunities.

Programs

Our program provides students with opportunities to pursue their passions in the Arts, combined with practical knowledge and skills needed when working in cultural industries. By combining Arts Administration courses, Business courses and one of the available Arts and Heritage concentrations, we believe that all graduates will possess a solid knowledge of the operations and organization of cultural institutions, both from their in-class experiences and the two practica required before they graduate.  

In the first year of the program, students are introduced to basic business practices, as well as the internal and external operations of Arts organizations. They also typically take one or two courses from their Arts (Drama, Fine Arts, Film Studies, or Music) or Public History and Heritage concentration. From there, they further hone their knowledge of their chosen concentration and of Arts Administration and Business operations. At this level, students can explore such topics as: Crisis Management, Entrepreneurialism and Fundraising. It is common within year two of a student’s course of study to enroll in the internal practicum course where they work for an organization operating on the Bishop’s campus, such as the Arts Administration-run Artsfest, Musique Chez Nous, the Bishop’s University Film Festival or the Eastern Townships Resource Centre and Archives. In their final year of study, more emphasis is placed on their concentration courses but they still have opportunities to take Business and Arts Administration courses. Typically, this is also the year where students complete their external practicum, an extensive internship with an Arts or Heritage organization outside of Bishop’s. This practicum is arranged between the Arts Administration program, the student, and the external organization and can be taken anywhere in the world.

You can learn more about the program in this article featured in La Tribune.

Major

Students enrolled in the Major in Arts Administration must successfully complete 75 credits of which 21 credits are Arts Administration courses, 27 credits are Business courses and 27 credits are from the student’s chosen concentration (Drama, Fine Arts, Film Studies, Music or Public History). Included in the Arts Administration requirements are the two practica: the internal one to be done on campus and the external one to be done off campus with an organization within Quebec, Canada or anywhere else in the world.Examples of these external practica are:

• Latitude 45, Montreal: internship in communication
• Théâtre Porte-Parole, Montreal: internship in philanthropy 
• Manif d’Art, Québec: internship in production 
• Collectif 9, Montreal: internship in production 
• Yamaska Literacy Council Internship: internship in charge of the 40th anniversary special projects 
• Foreman Art Gallery, Sherbrooke: internship in curating
• QiFang Street Artist Center, China: internship in curating
• Emei Flower Sea Music Festival, China (see photo): internship in programming 

Minor

There is a minor in Arts Administration that can be taken by students in the Humanities or in Business. If in the humanities, students can combine their major with courses in Business and Arts Administration. If in Business, students can combine their major with courses in one of the Arts concentrations: Drama, Film Studies, Fine Arts, Music or Public History and Heritage.

Certificate in Arts Management

For individuals wanting to work in cultural industries or for professionals seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge within these industries, the Certificate in Arts Management provides students with opportunities to learn about Arts organizations and their management through a combination of Arts Administration and Business courses.  They will also take courses within their chosen Arts field, whether it be Drama, Fine Arts, Film Studies, Music or Public History and Heritage.  An opportunity to work for an Arts or Heritage organization is also available within the program and is strongly encouraged.

Double Major in Arts Administration and an Arts discipline

For students enrolled in History, English, Fine Arts, Music or Drama, it is possible to combine their Major with Arts Administration.  The 27 credits that they take for their Arts major could count towards their Arts Administration major as well. See the Academic Calendar for further information on the Arts Administration program in conjunction with either Drama, Film Studies, Fine Arts, Music or History and Heritage.

• Timetable
• Academic Calendar
• Admission Process