Developed to meet the growing demand for professionals in the field who possess strong business and communication skills coupled with artistic sensibilities, our Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration program prepares you for a future in management in the arts.

Why earn your Arts Administration degree at Bellarmine?

Bellarmine is a terrific choice for students seeking a well-rounded liberal arts education because they are exposed to many diverse ideas and opportunities. As a result, Bellarmine students are able to tie a wide breadth of experiences and knowledge into their everyday lives and workplaces.

Most Arts Administration courses have 8 to 10 students. These small classes allow for generous amounts of individual instruction from faculty who will go the extra mile to help students achieve their highest level of ability. The faculty and professional arts administrators working in the field are known at the local and national level.

Program Highlights

The Arts Administration major prepares the student for a future in management in the arts and includes a minor in Business. Students may select the Art Emphasis, Music Emphasis, or Theatre Emphasis. Classroom experiences are enhanced by two required internships which provide the student with practical work experiences and an early entry into his or her chosen career path.

Career Prospects

Arts Administration graduates report nearly 100% employment and are working in regional and national fine and performing arts institutions. Majors earn a minor in Business Administration and complete a minimum of two professional internships. Arts Administration students participate in a minimum of two internships both in the United States and internationally. Faculty work one-on-one with students to place them within the community and develop individualized experiences that match interests and professional goals.

Alumna Story

Internships

An important component of the Criminal Justice Studies program is a requirement that all majors complete at least one internship. This semester-long experience allows students to step into their career area of interest and gain valuable professional knowledge and skills. Additionally, students make contacts useful for graduate school or employment in the criminal justice field. Some students have been hired by agencies with which they held an internship. Past placements have included law enforcement agencies, at both the local (e.g. LMPD, Coroner’s office) and federal level (e.g. FBI, Secret Service, ATF); with the offices of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges; with correctional agencies (e.g. prisons, halfway houses, probation and parole departments); and with various social service and non-profit agencies (e.g. restorative justice, family and youth counseling). A faculty coordinator helps students arrange placements, and monitors each internship.

Fine Art: J.B. Speed Art Museum, Video Kitchen, Hertz Art Gallery, Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts, The Riflemaker Gallery (London, England), The Mellwood Arts Center, The Louisville Visual Arts Association, Zoom Group, Swanson Reed Art Gallery, Owensboro Museum of Art, Artswatch Gallery and Weber Gallery.

Theatre: Blue Apple Theatre Company, Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, Segal Center for Performing Arts (Montreal, Canada), Walt Disney World College Program, Center Stage Theatre Company, Walden Theatre and The Alley Theater.

Music: Opera Memphis, The Handel House Museum (London, England), Louisville Orchestra, Multi-Disciplinary, Governor’s School for the Arts, American Community Centre, Frazier Museum of History, Barry Wooley Designs, WDJX Radio, Kentucky Opera Association and Live Nation Entertainment.

Multi-Disciplinary: Governor’s School for the Arts, American Community Centre, Frazier Museum of History, Barry Wooley Designs, Kidz Club, The Kentucky foundation for Women, Asia House (London, England) and Donna Lawrence Video Productions.

Bellarmine Arts Administration graduates have followed a wide range of career paths as well as graduate education. Bellarmine’s emphasis on the liberal arts produces well-rounded students who are highly desirable to graduate schools and employers in any field.

Career Development Center Resources

• Internships and Career Opportunities
• Employment Options for Art Administration/Art Majors
• Learn more about the field of Arts Administration
• Career Development Center

Faculty Profiles

Caren Cunningham, MFA, Program Director (email)
Megan Burnett (email)
Timothy Glasscock (email)

On-Campus Experiences

Bellarmine’s Arts Administration majors will have opportunities to attend events hosted by the art, music or theatre departments. These include performing arts events as well as speaking engagements hosted by the University. Not only do students learn from and interact with each other in the classroom, they can also engage in fun and exciting opportunities outside of it. Together, students are exposed to well-rounded learning experiences that are both entertaining and educational.

Arts Administration students are also encouraged to contribute photographs and articles to campus publications like the Lance yearbook, Ariel literacy magazine, and the Concord weekly newspaper.

Study Abroad

As an active member of the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad and the Kentucky Institute for International Studies, Bellarmine is able to offer Arts Administration students a wide range of study abroad opportunities including art studio, art history, music practicum, music theory, music history, theatre practicum, and theatre history. The school also provides service-learning opportunities locally and internationally.

Bellarmine offers a wide variety of study abroad options around the globe. Learn what opportunities are available to you below.

• Programs and Next Steps
• Programs with BU Faculty
• Scholarships
• Read about BU Students' Adventures Abroad
• Blogs and Videos
• Talk to your Faculty Liaison about Study Abroad

Related Programs

• Art Department
• Music Department
• Theatre Program
  

Degree Requirements

• Requirements for a Major in Art: Art Emphasis
• Requirements for a Major in Art: Music Emphasis
• Requirements for a Major in Arts Administration: Theatre Emphasis
  

A Vibrant Local Art Community

The city of Louisville is home to rich and diverse arts scene. Louisville’s metro government, along with many sponsors, actively supports public arts events throughout the community, with a dense calendar of concerts, plays, exhibits, and festivals all through the year. Below is a shortlist of Louisville art associations.

• Actors Theatre of Louisville
• Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft
• Kentucky Opera Association
• Kentucky Shakespeare Festival
• Louisville Bach Society
• Louisville Ballet
• Louisville Orchestra
• Louisville Theatrical Association
• Louisville Visual Art Association
• Louisville Youth Choir
• Louisville Youth Orchestra
• Music Theatre Louisville
• Stage One
• 21C Museum Hotel
• Walden Theatre
• West Louisville Performing Arts Academy

Accreditation

Bellarmine University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees.

Additional Resources