Entrepreneurship and the Arts

Undergraduate

Arts Entrepreneurship explores how creativity becomes sustainable practice in the arts and cultural sector. Students will examine how artists and organizations design, fund, and share their work by studying four core challenges: managing markets, engaging audiences, collaborating with stakeholders, and stewarding money. Case studies highlight a wide range of approaches, from Wynton Marsalis at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Los Angeles Philharmonic to the Louvre and San Francisco Ballet. Contemporary debates around digital platforms and artist strategy — including Spotify and Taylor Swift — bring current industry dynamics into focus. Students will apply these frameworks through two major projects. For the midterm, each student will design and pitch a hypothetical arts venture to a panel of experts. For the final, teams will imagine, budget, and produce a live “study break” event in the Top of the Hop, complete with a staffed bar. These projects challenge students to balance artistic vision, audience engagement, and financial stewardship. Arts Entrepreneurship equips students with the tools to think imaginatively and act resourcefully in shaping the future of the arts.