Arts Administration

ARTS ADMINISTRATION AT RIDER – TOWARD A NATIONAL MODEL

The Arts Administration program at Rider strives to become a national model for undergraduate instruction in the rapidly-growing and in-demand professional world of managing arts institutions of all shapes, sizes and disciplines.  Rider’s highly-specialized program, led by seasoned arts professionals from New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere combines smaller, focused classes, essential real-world knowledge and skills with an individualized curriculum that advances a student’s particular arts interests.

Rider’s uniquely arts-intensive proximity to New York and Philadelphia enables our students to learn from: terrific guest speakers; on-site visits to some of the most prominent arts institutions in the country; unique internship opportunities and invaluable, life-long professional relationships in the field.  What’s more, Rider’s Arts Administration learning opportunities reach beyond New York and Philadelphia to include arts immersion tours to Los Angeles and other American arts hubs as well as arts administration study excursions to cultural capitals of the world.

Rider’s professional, experienced & caring Arts Administration faculty and guest lecturers embody a deep commitment to and passion for the arts and represent nearly a century of combined professional arts leadership experience, ranging from the world-renowned Martha Graham Dance Company to BMI and ASCAP, national and international tour producing, arts academy development and Los Angeles, New York and regional theater management.

Rider’s Westminster College of the Arts’ dedication to excellence in all artistic disciplines affords Arts Administration students the opportunity to advance their unique artistic passions – perhaps by taking class with one of the Broadway professionals, New York painters or nationally-recognized musicians teaching on campus.  Otherwise, indulge your inner artist by attending professional exhibits and artist lectures in the Rider art gallery, participating in one of the Rider Dance Team performances or sitting in on a workshop hosted by one of Rider’s nationally-esteemed theater guest lecturers!

 
ARTS ADMINISTRATION AT RIDER – FREEDOM TO CREATE, TO EXPLORE

Arts Admin at Rider encourages you to maintain focus in an area of the arts that inspires you and which you will someday lead to future success.  In tandem with a dynamic and diverse Arts Administration core course of study, students choose the area of the arts that excites and inspires them.  For those looking for a more general approach in all arts foci or who want to explore a more entrepreneurial emphasis on managing the arts, Rider programs are also specially-designed to give students the tools needed to succeed in the real world of Arts Administration.  Core Emphases are listed below, and you can click on each for more extensive information.

  
RIDER ARTS ADMIN – REAL WORLD LEARNING TOOLS AND PROGRAMS

Beyond invaluable classroom learning, Rider’s Arts Administration program helps expand your knowledge base and create life-long connections with fellow students  through real-world, hands-on learning opportunities, resources and extra-curricular activities.  From New York, Los Angeles and World Cultural Capital Study Options to a State of the Arts Admin Center, Rider provides students exciting and fun opportunities to expand their learning horizons, broaden their professional networks and deepen their understanding of the field!   Below are representative tools and programs for students to explore:

Rider Arts Admin Center combines state-of-the-art learning tools, resource guides and designated learning space with real-world functioning for Arts Administration students in a real-world, professional environment akin to an executive Board and Conference room.  The Center is where students studying management of all arts disciplines can come together and learn, create, present and share, and where guest lecturers can engage with students in an intimate, professional, real-world setting.  Internship and Practicum project meetings, meetings with campus and off-campus arts leaders, events planning, Arts Management Association board meetings, intern and professional job opportunity searches and introductory meetings happen in the center.

Rider’s Arts Management Association: Rider AMA is a student-run, professionally-advised and supported organization of Arts Admin majors and minors which is structured and operates much like a real-world arts producing institution does.  The AMA engages and hosts professional guest speakers in the field, produces special professional development events such as the “RUCAST” networking brunch, provides support for arts productions and activities on campus and off, and functions as a valuable hands-on learning tool for future Arts Administrators.  Click here to access Rider’s AMA Facebook page.

The Rider Arts Admin Ensemble: Rider’s Arts Admin Ensemble affords Arts Admin majors and minors who are emphasizing music and who want to continue to perform contemporary rock, pop, jazz and other styles the opportunity to engage with each other and to make great music.  Majors focusing on music can take the Arts Admin Ensemble to satisfy their ensemble performance requirement.  Other options for the more classically-inclined include the Rider Band and Chorale.

Rider Arts Admin New York Network Seminar: In the fall of their Senior Year (and by invitation of professor, otherwise or in addition to) Rider Arts Admin students have the unique opportunity of meeting in Manhattan, at nationally and internationally-renowned arts institutions, with top arts administration professionals.  These outings, which typically encompass a five-hour timespan once each week for six weeks, afford one-on-one face time with leaders of institutions such as: Disney Theatricals; Jazz at Lincoln Center; The Martha Graham Dance Company; ASCAP; The Rodgers & Hammerstein Foundation; Imagem Records; the lead producers and production manager of the 2010 Tony Award Winning Musical, MEMPHIS and more. It’s a truly extraordinary opportunity to learn from and network with the very best in the world!

Rider Arts Admin L.A. Network Seminar: Every Summer, a group of Arts Admin majors and minors (and students from other disciplines, by invitation of professor) have the opportunity to spend up to two weeks in Los Angeles, replicating the “New York Network” concept in the City of Angels. Initially fostered by music industry-focused majors, this exciting program affords students unique, one-on-one face time with top arts institution and industry leaders in music, film, television, symphonic orchestra, dance and visual art living & working in & around Los Angeles.  Institutions like Paramount Pictures Television; Disney Hall; The Hollywood Bowl; The Getty Museum; Geffen Records, as well as smaller, independent music & film industry leaders, agents and performers make this an experience that truly introduces Rider students to the industry first-hand! RIDER ARTS ADMIN “MODEL OF EXCELLENCE” PROGRAM

Rider Arts Admin – Going Global! Seminars: Every Winter, Rider offers a long-standing Arts Abroad program which takes Rider students of all disciplines to two world cultural capitals over two weeks.  In addition, a new Arts Administration-focused learning seminar is launching which will study how the arts are administered and exist in various parts of the world.  In 2011, a study of former Eastern Bloc nations and cities encompasses site visits to arts institutions in Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Berlin and outlying areas nearby to learn how the arts survived (or otherwise adjusted or failed to survive) with the fall of the Iron Curtain.  Students will travel and assist professor(s) with research on this and other pertinent topics as they relate to particular world regions.  Further exploration will include how the arts exist and are administered in China, India, South America and beyond!

Rider Arts Administration Leadership Seminars: Each summer, Rider will host aspiring arts administration students of pre-college, undergraduate and graduate levels who are looking to advance to the next levels in their respective student or professional careers in the field.  Rider Professors are joined by top professionals in the field of Arts Administration, special guest artists and administrative personnel from top arts institutions, and advanced Rider program seniors (who will assist in workshops for high school students) in providing specialized workshops, masterclasses and symposia on pertinent topics to the different ages/levels of student.  The program, modeled loosely on the successful arts management institute at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts, will draw students from all over the nation to Rider to learn and share and grow to become the next generations of great arts leaders!  RIDER ARTS ADMIN “MODEL OF EXCELLENCE” PROGRAM

Rider Arts Admin On and Off-Campus Practicum Learning: Every year, Arts Admin second semester Sophomores through first semester Seniors engage in Practicum learning assignments – the first two in service to one or more arts programs and/or events on campus and the last two in service to an arts agency off-campus.  Practical, real-world, hands-on experience and training through Practicum builds toward Senior internships and beyond.

Rider Arts Administration Professional Internship Learning: Each spring, Arts Admin Seniors take on real-world internship work experiences to further prepare them for launching into professional careers in the field.  As early as Sophomore year, students begin the process of identifying potential internships and, with the support of the Arts Admin Center, Arts Admin faculty and ancillary support from Rider Career Services, by the Spring of their Senior Year are applying what they’ve learned in an institution of their choice.  A culmination of New York and L.A. Networking class interactions with terrific institutions and professionals, ongoing placement research through the Arts Admin Center and faculty, RUCAST and other networking opportunities on campus and preceding Practicum placements also helps propel the Rider Arts Admin student toward their successful Internship experience. Recent and past Internship placements have included Octone Records – the label which features Maroon Five and other great acts; the nationally-renowned McCarter Theater Center; national arts advocate/lobby Americans for the Arts; the Lena Horne Foundation; Carnegie Hall and more.

Arts Administration Lab: Weekly “lab” meetings in the Arts Admin Center at Rider bring all majors in all levels together to discuss individual and group work projects ranging from Practicum assignments to Upperclassmen sharing ideas with and supporting Underclassmen in their degree pursuits.  Lab is also a forum for discussing current issues facing the arts, events and articles of import, and to welcome guest speakers on key topics of interest to all class levels.

Rider’s Arts Administration RUCAST Brunch: Every Spring, the student-run Arts Management Association -  under the guidance of Arts Admin Center Director and faculty and with support from the Rider Career Services program and others – hosts dozens of professionals representing top regional and nationally-recognized institutions at a lively arts industry networking brunch.  RUCAST is a terrific opportunity for Arts Admin majors and minors to interact with prospective internship and professional work placement providers.  Special guests and keynote speakers further enhance the overall learning and networking experience and make the RUCAST Brunch and annual “go-to” event!