in person

Art & Arts Management

MA in Art & Arts Management

The program is not accepting applications at this time.

This program merges studio practice from CGU’s art program with coursework in the business, markets, history and theory of art, as well as core courses in finance, accounting, law, and marketing. Students maintain an art practice while learning broadly transferable business and management principles and techniques. In contrast to a conventional art degree such as an MFA, candidates for this degree pursue an entrepreneurship sequence.

Understanding the culture of the studio, and the kind of work, planning, and management required to engage in ambitious artistic projects, either at large scale or over long periods of time, is more necessary today than at any time before.

Program Highlights
  • Gain core competencies in arts management, from finance to strategy to marketing.
  • Learn from professionals in L.A.’s arts and cultural community.
  • Access your personal studio in the Art and Music Building alongside other MFA candidates.
  • Participate in group shows with students in the MFA program.

Program At-a-glance

  • 48 units

    required units

  • MA in Art & Arts Management

    degree awarded

  • In Person

    modality

  • Spring, Fall

    program start

  • 1.5 years | full time*

    estimated completion time

Faculty

  • David Pagel

    David Pagel

    Professor of Art Theory and History
    Roland Reiss Endowed Chair in Art
    Faculty Coordinator, Center for Business & Management of the Arts

    Research Interests

    Art, Art media, Painting, Contemporary Art, Art Criticism, Museums and Creativity

  • Jay Prag

    Jay Prag

    Clinical Full Professor
    Academic Director
    Faculty Coordinator, Center for Business & Management of the Arts

    Research Interests

    Corporate Finance, Investments, Economics of Strategy, Macroeconomics

  • Portrait of David Amico

    David Amico

    Professor of Art

    Research Interests

    Art, Painting

  • Portrait of Joshua Goode

    Joshua Goode

    Professor of Cultural Studies and History
    Chair, Cultural Studies Department

    Research Interests

    Modern Spain, 19th- and 20th-century Europe, Genocide and racial thought, Museums and commemoration, Memory

  • Portrait of Iva Gueorguieva

    Iva Gueorguieva

    Adjunct Professor of Art

    Research Interests

    Art, Painting

  • Portrait of Julian Hoeber

    Julian Hoeber

    Adjunct Professor of Art

    Research Interests

    Sculpture, Installation

  • Portrait of Carmine Lanaccone

    Carmine Iannaccone

    Adjunct Professor of Art

    Research Interests

    Art, Painting, Sculpture

  • Portrait of Rachel Lachowicz

    Rachel Lachowicz

    Professor of Studio Art
    Chair, Art Department

    Research Interests

    Conceptual practices in feminism, materiality, and social politics

  • Portrait of M. Reafsnyder

    Michael Reafsnyder

    Adjunct Professor of Art

    Research Interests

    Art, Painting

Affiliated Faculty

  • Leticia Buckley

    Chief Executive Officer, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes

    Research Interests

    Management and strategic implementation of government-related and civic relationships, Cultivating and building strong arts and culture-focused partnerships

  • Bronwyn Mauldin

    Director of Research and Evaluation at the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture

  • John McGuirk

    Interim Vice President at Community Foundation Sonoma County

  • Alma Ruiz

    Adjunct Professor

    Research Interests

    Contemporary Latin American Art, Exhibition Making & Managing​

  • Robin Sukhadia

    Strategist | Organizational Leadership | Major Gifts Fundraising

Curriculum

A typical course of study would be:

Fall – Year 1

  • Introduction to Arts Management (4 units)
  • Legal Foundations of the Arts (4 units)
  • Principles and Practices of Fundraising I (2 units)
  • Marketing Management (2 units)
  • Elective (4 units)

Spring – Year 1

  • Finance & Accounting for the Creative Industries (4 units)
  • Capstone A (4 units)
  • Field Study Practicum (0 units)
  • Electives (4-8 units)

Fall – Year 2

  • Capstone B (4 units)
  • Electives (4-8 units)

Field Study

Field study travel provides behind-the-scenes access to artists, art businesses and organizations, and leaders in the field. The trips are designed to accelerate the formation of international networks and ensure familiarity with the complexity of the international arts landscape. All students are required to go on one field study trip.

View recent itineraries:

Past global destinations include:

  • Beijing, China
  • Cape Town, South Africa
  • Hong Kong
  • Mexico City, Mexico
  • Shanghai, China
  • Seoul, South Korea
  • Singapore
  • Taipei, Taiwan
  • Tokyo, Japan
  • UAE: Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Past domestic destinations include:

  • Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Marfa, Texas
  • San Francisco, California

Capstone Entrepreneurship Sequence

Every Art & Arts Management student completes a capstone sequence, which is the culmination of your degree, synthesizing everything that you have learned throughout the program. It is also designed as a bridge to your professional life, serving as a powerful demonstration of the skills you’ve developed at CGU as you enter or continue your work in the arts and cultural field.

Research, design, plan, and pitch a new venture for the arts and cultural sector.

Your venture can stand independently of existing arts institutions and businesses, or it can propose innovations for existing organizations. New ventures can be for-profit firms or nonprofit initiatives, or something in between (such as public benefit corporations). Develop comprehensive and persuasive arguments for why your new venture will positively impact the sector and attract the necessary resources and support to get it off the ground.

Application Guidelines

University Requirements
Application Fee

$80 (fee is non-refundable)

Official Transcripts

Undergraduate/graduate

Applicants must submit a sealed, official transcript from every undergraduate and graduate institution that has granted the applicant a degree. Electronic transcripts sent to admissions@cgu.edu are also accepted. For undergraduate coursework, applicants are required to submit proof of a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Unofficial copies of transcripts are accepted for review purposes, but official copies will be required upon admission.

Applicants currently earning a degree that will be completed prior to attending CGU are required to submit a transcript showing work in progress for evaluation purposes. Once the degree has been granted, a final official transcript documenting the degree conferred must be submitted to CGU.

International applicants are advised to review the International Transcript Guidelines for additional information on submitting international transcripts.

English Proficiency Exam

Required (international applicants only)

A valid score on one of the following examinations TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson PTE, Duolingo English Test is required of all non-native English-speaking applicants. The examination is not required for the following applicants:

  • Citizens or permanent residents of countries where English is the sole official language of instruction, e.g., Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada (except Quebec), England, Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobago, Uganda, and Wales (see the CGU Bulletin for a complete list of accepted countries).
  • Applicants who hold an undergraduate or advanced degree, or will have earned such a degree prior to enrolling at CGU, from an institution in the US or in countries where English is the sole official language of instruction (see above).
  • Applicants who have successfully completed an academic English pre-master’s or intensive graduate bridge program from a nationally recognized, regionally accredited four-year college or university in the United States in the last two years, with submitted evidence of successful completion, and subject to curriculum approval.
  • CGU allows for an English proficiency waiver if the applicant has received, or will receive prior to enrollment at CGU, an undergraduate or advanced degree from an institution where English is one of the primary languages of instruction for the majority of courses in the student’s program. To receive the waiver, documentation must be provided by the applicant to show that English is the language of instruction at their university/college.

CGU’s school code for the TOEFL exam is 4053.

International applicants are encouraged to visit our International Applicants page for more information, including score requirements.

Resume

Applicants must submit an up-to-date copy of their resume.

Program Requirements
Letter of Recommendation

2 letters required

When filling out the online application, please enter references acquainted with your potential for success who will submit a written recommendation on your behalf. In most academic departments, references from faculty members who can speak to your academic ability are preferred; applicants with substantial work experience may request professional references. Please do not enter family members as references.

You will be required to input information for your recommenders (whether they are submitting online or not) in the “Recommendations” section of the online application. Please follow the directions in this section carefully before clicking on “Recommendation Provider List” to input the names and contact information for each recommender. You will have an opportunity to indicate if the reference writer will be submitting online. These reference writers will receive an email from CGU with instructions on submitting an online recommendation.

Recommenders who are indicated as offline will not receive an email from CGU with instructions to submit. These reference writers can submit via traditional mail and should use the supplemental New Student Recommendation Form. Recommenders can also email their letter of recommendation to the Office of Admissions at admissions@cgu.edu.

Download the Recommendation Form

Interview

Optional

After an initial review of your application to the program, you may be invited for an interview.

Portfolio

Applicants to the Art Department must electronically upload a portfolio of representative work for evaluation. Portfolios must be directly uploaded to the application after submission. Portfolios should consist of 15 images of recent artwork that represent a cohesive body of work. Applicants must include the title, size, year, and medium for all 15 images that are included in the portfolio. Performance and/or video artists may submit work that is no longer than 3 minutes in length.

Cost & Aid

ESTIMATED TUITION (CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS, NON-RESIDENTS, INTERNATIONAL)
Program 48 units
Tuition per unit* $2,020

*Based on 2024-2025 tuition rates.

 

STUDENT FEES (PER SEMESTER)
$245 Student Fee
$150 Technology Fee
International Student Services Fee*: $661 fall semester, $776 spring semester
**Applies to all international students (F-1 visa only) who are registered in coursework, doctoral study, or continuous registration. The fee is assessed each fall and spring semester for annual ISO accident and sickness plans and administrative fees. Subject to change.

For estimates of room & board, books, etc., please download CGU’s Cost of Attendance 2024-2025.

review financial aid

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Adjunct & Affiliated Faculty

Leticia Buckley

Chief Executive Officer, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes

Email
leticia.buckley@cgu.edu

Bronwyn Mauldin

Director of Research and Evaluation at the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture

Email
bronwyn.mauldin@cgu.edu

John McGuirk

Interim Vice President at Community Foundation Sonoma County

Email
john.mcguirk@cgu.edu

Alma Ruiz

Adjunct Professor

Email
alma.ruiz@cgu.edu

Robin Sukhadia

Strategist | Organizational Leadership | Major Gifts Fundraising

Email
robin.sukhadia@cgu.edu
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