Course Descriptions

Art, Self, and Society examines the role of art's impact on society and the self, exploring key cultural and public policy issues including community standards and censorship. Students will explore questions related to the social functions of the arts; the use of art for advocacy and patronage over the world; and the impact of art on society and economic development. The geographic focus of this course is global and will compare art, including commercial entertainment and the media, and cultural practices and impacts from various cultures around the world, including Indigenous art. In addition to exploring these issues in a larger context, this course also provides an opportunity for students to reflect on their own lived experiences and the role and significance of art in their own lives through creative assignments and arts-informed inquiry approaches.

This course examines the principles and practices of arts and entertainment management, including organizational structures, human resource management, decision-making approaches, culture creation, and strategic planning. Students will explore the ethical considerations of leading a values-based arts and entertainment organization and how the cultural context both informs and is affected by the organization's mission, vision, structure, and planning. Students will examine and analyze these principles to create holistic self-care plans that integrate their personal values, strengths, and goals.

This course examines the Creative and Cultural Industries Management field, including types of creative industries, career options, and current issues in arts management. Students will also reflect upon their career goals and create preliminary plans for attaining them.

A continuation of AEM 140.

This highly experiential course introduces students to the various aspects of developing and producing arts/entertainment events and other cultural products. Projects vary based on student interest, and activities may include curation, project management, planning, budgeting, working with artists, interpreting contracts, troubleshooting, and pre-production and post-mortem reflection while respecting cultural identities and intersectionality.

Building on skills developed in Arts & Entertainment Management Studio I, this highly experiential course offers further refinement of skills for of developing and producing an arts/entertainment events and other cultural products, such as developing community partnerships, intercultural curation and production, sustainability, advocacy, building a reflective practice and leveraging networks while respecting cultural identities and intersectionality.

This course will explore various computer applications used by arts and entertainment managers to perform management functions while being mindful of the legal, ethical, and responsible use of digital information including privacy, intellectual property, and copyright. Students will interact with digital tools and resources used by arts and entertainment organizations to gather, manage, and present information such as streaming media and digital marketing materials.

This course introduces students to the various components involved with festival and community event management such as developing objectives, values-based programming/curation, community partnerships, risk management and harm reduction, and site/venue development. Students will learn to plan and execute festivals and community events while being mindful of equitable and inclusive best practices.

This course will introduce students to record label management. Students will learn how to produce a CD from the creative concept and production stage through to the sales/marketing and retail stage.

This course will examine the various aspects of managing a venue. Students will learn box office and front of house operations, event services, maintenance, rental clients and human resources.

Students will explore ways in which performers can make money through means such as publishing, licensing, touring, booking, recording, and various performance types. Through discussions, case studies, and industry guests, students will examine how contracts, intellectual property, distribution, and performance interact within the business of performance.

This course calls upon students to recognize and challenge their social perceptions to address the inequalities that exist in both the arts and entertainment workforce and audience as a means to fully realize the positive contribution that arts, culture, and entertainment can make in society. Through case studies, readings, discussions, and guests, students will explore ethical questions in the creative and cultural industries. By engaging with Indigenous ways of knowing and being and examining the intersections between race, class, gender, sexuality, disability, and other identity categories, students will gain an understanding of cultural contexts and critical tools needed to work towards a more equitable arts and culture field.

This course will focus on transferring skills and knowledge from the academic environment to the practical work environment. Students will envision their career path and explore appropriate work environment fit for their practicum based on their strengths, preferences, values, and beliefs.

This course is the first of a pair of practicum courses. Students will gain on-the-job experience in various arts management positions. The experience will be determined by the organization that the student is placed with. Each student will be supervised by his/her immediate superior throughout the practicum. In order to foster a real working environment, students will be encouraged to work independently and be given objectives to accomplish during their practicum. A job description outlining duties and responsibilities will be issued.

This course is the second of a pair of practicum courses. Students will gain experience in their practicum through one or a combination of hands-on experiences, including a placement in an arts/entertainment organization, participating in professional development (PD) activities, or completing special projects. The experience will be determined by the goals of the student as well as the organization with which the student is placed. Each student will be supervised by the instructor and by the practicum host (if applicable) throughout the placement. A practicum description outlining duties and responsibilities will be issued. The second placement may occur at a different organization than the first.

This course examines the role of both short-term marketing and long-term audience development in cultivating and engaging with a community to meet organizational objectives. Using a blend of theory and practice, students will determine effective ways to match the intent of communication to the message and channel. Students will learn to identify barriers to attendance and address them through culturally and ethically appropriate means.

This course introduces financial management concepts for the creative and cultural industry, including cultural products, accounting, project planning, budgeting, managing cash flow, record keeping, business operations, and payroll. This course examines the financial issues that are critical to both commercial and non-profit organizations in the industry such as film and TV, theatre, music, and festivals as well as budgets and finance for self-employment and entrepreneurial ventures.

This course explores funding for arts and entertainment organizations, including sources of funding, the fund development process, trends, ethics, and innovation. Students will gain experience developing campaigns, pitching, and writing proposals and grants for a range of creative industry enterprises while being mindful of ethical standards and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Students will investigate strategies for managing artists' careers. Whether it be their own career or that of another, students will engage in goal planning, communication strategies, and building a brand for an artist. Students will examine relationship management, including exploring ethical considerations working with an artist in terms of one's values and beliefs.

This course prepares students for building and maintaining a career in the arts and entertainment industry. Lectures and panel discussions will focus on transferring skills and knowledge from the academic environment to the practical work environment. Topics include self-assessment of employability skills, professional behaviour, resume writing, interview techniques, work search methods, goal setting and workplace skills.

Students will be introduced to the basic concepts of tour management in the performing arts. Lectures will focus on the process of tour organization and the resources available for booking tours.

This capstone guides students through individual projects carried out in cooperation with a faculty advisor. Based on knowledge and experience gained throughout the program, students will complete and present a graduation portfolio containing key elements of an event plan including, but not limited to, an event proposal, a budget, a marketing plan, and a sponsorship proposal or grant application.

This course is a 15-week practicum in which the student will assume a position working for a professional arts organization for 35 hours per week. These will generally be office hours with some evening and weekend work, depending on the position assigned. A job description outlining duties and responsibilities will be issued.

A 15-week practicum in which the student will assume a position working for a professional arts organization.

Students will develop an in‐depth understanding of how to apply various marketing strategies to engage arts and entertainment audiences. Students will create detailed marketing plans, including sponsorship agreements and public relation strategies to maximize the potential for news coverage in print, electronic (radio, TV) and online sources. Students will also evaluate various social media tools and tactics to achieve the most effective results.

Students will develop a thorough understanding of the concepts, principles and practices of profit and non‐profit management in arts and entertainment, including human resources, governance, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, leadership, professional behaviour, and Indigenizing the arts and entertainment workplace. Through this, students will also engage with strategies to support artistic vitality and institutional sustainability while reflecting values of equity, diversity and inclusion and managing the demands of numerous stakeholders within dynamic organizations and the broader community as they learn to become adaptable, agile leaders.

Students will gain a thorough understanding of financial management concepts for the arts and entertainment industry, including accounting, budgeting, cost‐benefit analysis, managing cash flow, forecasting, box office management, payroll, asset management and restriction, and trend analysis. This advanced course examines the financial issues that are critical to both commercial and non‐profit organizations in the industry, as well as budgets and finance for self‐employment and entrepreneurial ventures.

This course examines the critical role of resource development activities in performing arts and entertainment organizations. Students will develop the skills to construct and deliver effective funding proposals in traditional avenues such as grant writing, corporate sponsorship, and annual fund campaigns as well as social media and online fundraising operations.

Students will develop a thorough understanding of the concepts, principles and practices of artist development in arts and entertainment, including client selection, building a team, career management for artists, agent/managers' roles, revenue streams, self-managing an artistic career, and Indigenizing the artistic development environment. Through this, students will also engage with strategies to support artists while reflecting values of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Students will learn the key concepts of organizing touring entertainment, focusing on the administrative and management responsibilities such as booking, budgeting, financing, routing, staffing, and decision making. Students will learn to generate contracts, riders, and stage plots as well as negotiate fees and working conditions for touring artists. Working with both music concert tours as well as performing arts tours, such as theatrical tours and ballet companies, students will be able to determine suitable venues to suit the needs of the production.

This course is the first of a pair of mixed mode courses. Students will examine various issues within the arts and entertainment industry. Throughout the term, students will share and reflect on their experience through online forums, journals and final seminars.

This course is the first in a pair of practicum courses. Students will gain experience in their practicum through one or a combination of hands on experiences, including a placement in an arts/entertainment organization, participating in professional development (PD) activities, or completing special projects. The experience will be determined by the goals of the student as well as the organization with which the student is placed. Each student will be supervised virtually by the instructor and by the practicum host (if applicable) throughout the placement.

This course is the second of a pair of mixed mode courses. Students will continue to examine and discuss various issues in arts and entertainment in the context of wider society and its economic and political trends. Throughout the term, students will share and reflect on their experience through online forums, journals and final seminars.

This course is the second in a pair of practicum courses. Students will gain experience in their practicum through one or a combination of hands-on experiences, including a placement in an arts/entertainment organization, participating in professional development (PD) activities, or completing special projects. The experience will be determined by the goals of the student as well as the organization with which the student is placed. Each student will be supervised virtually by the instructor and by the practicum host (if applicable) throughout the placement.

This capstone course guides students through individual projects carried out in cooperation with a faculty advisor. Based on knowledge and experience gained throughout the program, students will complete and present a graduation portfolio containing key elements of an event plan including, but not limited to, an event proposal, a budget, a marketing plan and a sponsorship proposal or grant application. Students will also write an article on an industry topic as assigned.