Hilesh Patel

The Management Studio is a space in which to explore 21st century leadership and management though a practice based investigation of contemporary organizational, project, and leadership models with an eye toward designing frameworks for the future. In addition to investigating so-called traditional management models, students will engage with current cultural management/leadership theory and practice around sustainability, networks, leadership, collaboration, equity, engagement, and governance, as well as emergent models for supporting innovation, creativity, and adaptation. A distinguishing element of this course is the project-based learning environment. Management Studio integrates skill-building projects into the course work for the purpose of practicing and developing individual and group strategies. The projects in the studio are developed with external and internal partners and engage a broad set of skill building opportunities. Students select projects based on interest and personal development trajectories. The premise of this course is that participants will be active leaders in shaping the future of cultural/arts management. As such, the course invites broad and active participation and preparation for every class meeting. As a ?hands on? examination of management practice and theory, students are urged to critically engage with the material and to participate in class discussions, projects, presentations and debates. Each student will work on an ongoing project in addition to class preparation to include reading, discussion and presentation. Class will generally be divided into two sections. The first section will include discussion and/or presentations of readings and assignments. The second section will include project report outs and project work/discussion.

For spring 2023, the course in Digital Arts Administration will be curated around issues of Media Justice. In 2002, Malkia Devich Cyril, co-founder of the media Justice Network, helped coin the term “Media Justice”, and in 2019 declared that one significant goal of the Media Justice movement was to “fight for a future where we are all connected, represented and free.” Inspired by Malkia’s work, these are questions we will ask, together with invited guests and speakers who will contribute global and local perspectives: How can technology and design be decolonial, local and ethical? How do media literacy and technology education factor in the fight for social, political, and economic equality? How is Net Neutrality intertwined with racial, economic, and gender justice issues? What are the social implications and harms of artificial intelligence (algorithmic justice)? How do issues of Media Justice intersect with artistic practices? How do artistic and administrative digital practices relate to cultural policy processes? General Description: Arts Administration has increasingly intersected with topics in the digital realm, including copyright, archiving and data management, communication, education and access, in addition to displaying and maintaining the work by artists who work with electronic devices. Most recently, on-line platforms for museums and event venues have become crucial necessities. Technology rapidly changes, as do the needs it addresses and creates. For this reason, this topics class will choose a relevant area within Digital Arts Administration for each iteration. Course work will include readings and screenings, responses to presentations by invited experts, and an independent, individual or group research project appropriate to the annual topic of the course.

Arts leaders affect cultural change not through their vision alone, but in their ability to mobilize stakeholders. Similarly, effective arts communicators do more than express their ideas. They consider who is reading or listening and understand they must create value for their audiences, to change the perception of an institution, a policy, an artist or a work, and to move people to action. This course prepares students to be effective arts communicators. This course prepares students to become successful communicators, both in the academy and the arts and culture workplace. They will learn to write and speak to groups by locating and addressing the problems their audiences care about. Participants also will analyze the textual features of arts writing in various forms, inspecting the language and stylistic conventions that reflect the core values of a discourse community of writers and readers. Through readings, writing assignments, presentations and workshops, students will develop a portfolio of writing samples, gain public speaking experience, and become critically aware of their own communications processes and strategies.