ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN ARTS & CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Junior standing Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify and describe the key elements of a value proposition canvas Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Articulate the role of mission statements in social-purpose organizations, implications of entity choices, and sources of funding for nonprofit and related organizations in the arts and cultural space Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Identify and analyze business models used in the creative economy across nonprofit and social-purpose organizations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Define the design thinking problem-solving approach and outline key elements of the process Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Apply appropriate research methods (ethnographic versus market research) and invoke related tools (literature reviews, observational note-taking, etc.) to help test hypothesis in the development of new products/services for arts and cultural organizations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Analyze arguments about the role of entrepreneurial action and funding for arts and cultural organizations in the context of other disciplinary approaches in the visual and performing arts, design, and related fields Audience: Graduate 7. Design a value proposition canvas for an entrepreneurial cultural/creative organization in the Madison community that will inform product/service development for a distinct customer segment. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Rapidly test emergent ideas in the field with (potential) customers using a design thinking approach that includes creation of “prototypes” (storyboards, role play, 3D printed objects, etc.) and interpretation of results Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 9. Make connections between the world of ideas and concepts with day-to-day issues and concerns in cultural/creative organizations. Where possible, encourage/highlight/expose new connection points (e.g., “I never thought of it that way...”) Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 10. Develop teamwork, written and oral communication skills Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify and describe the key elements of a value proposition canvas Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Articulate the role of mission statements in social-purpose organizations, implications of entity choices, and sources of funding for nonprofit and related organizations in the arts and cultural space Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Identify and analyze business models used in the creative economy across nonprofit and social-purpose organizations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Define the design thinking problem-solving approach and outline key elements of the process Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Apply appropriate research methods (ethnographic versus market research) and invoke related tools (literature reviews, observational note-taking, etc.) to help test hypothesis in the development of new products/services for arts and cultural organizations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Analyze arguments about the role of entrepreneurial action and funding for arts and cultural organizations in the context of other disciplinary approaches in the visual and performing arts, design, and related fields Audience: Graduate 7. Design a value proposition canvas for an entrepreneurial cultural/creative organization in the Madison community that will inform product/service development for a distinct customer segment. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Rapidly test emergent ideas in the field with (potential) customers using a design thinking approach that includes creation of “prototypes” (storyboards, role play, 3D printed objects, etc.) and interpretation of results Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 9. Make connections between the world of ideas and concepts with day-to-day issues and concerns in cultural/creative organizations. Where possible, encourage/highlight/expose new connection points (e.g., “I never thought of it that way...”) Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 10. Develop teamwork, written and oral communication skills Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad