Arts administration programs prepare people to manage art museums, art shows, and arts organizations. Students learn principles of management, staffing, and fundraising. They also learn how to promote artists and art events.

You're probably familiar with the label "starving artist." If you're an artist yourself, maybe someone you know has clucked her tongue and discouraged you from joining other artists on the road to starvation. Or maybe you've heard people make jokes about such struggling artists.

Many people hold a stereotypical view of artists as people whose heads are in the clouds or who refuse to be bothered with the details of average daily life. This is not an accurate picture. In fact, a 2002 study showed that America's nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion in economic activity every year. Not bad for an industry filled with impractical artists, is it?

From just this figure, you can begin to understand how important the job of an arts administrator is. It's just as important as the job of the artist. In some ways, as an arts administrator, you provide a bridge between art, artist, and audience. Part businessperson and part community builder, you organize art-related agencies, operations, or facilities. You serve as an advocate for artists, arts education, and art in general.

You might, for example, oversee the operations of symphony orchestras, opera companies, theaters, dance companies, arts councils, and service organizations. You could manage artists, art exhibits, or auction houses. You could even produce films and television shows.

Many successful arts administrators combine their artistic ability with a dual talent in management or business. Studio and performing art skills can improve your understanding of the industry for which you work. But not all arts administrators are artists. However, they do usually have a deep appreciation for the fine arts.

In this program of study, you take courses in the history and development of different art forms, such as dance and music. You learn about pressing issues affecting the arts community. You also study principles related to business administration and community development. You might learn to write grant proposals and raise funds for a nonprofit organization. Networking and social leadership are important. For this reason, you also study effective communication principles.

About 90 colleges and universities offer programs in arts administration. You can typically earn either a master's or a doctoral degree. In general, a master's degree takes about five to six years of full-time study after high school and a doctoral degree about three to four years after that.

A few schools offer graduate level certificates for working arts administration professionals who want to advance their training and knowledge without the fuss of another degree.

You may be able to focus on a particular art specialty or phases of business management. Students who have studio or performance skills typically focus on managing artists or art-related organizations in those areas.