Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship

male teacher talks to students in an auditorium

Meadows Artist Bridge

Featured Resource The Meadows Artist Bridge was created by the Division of Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship and the Division of Music. The platform connects interested SMU music students with people seeking to hire them for performances, teaching and other professional opportunities. The Meadows Artist Bridge is a unique resource that further establishes SMU Meadows as a leader in arts entrepreneurship.

Student Work

Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship

Julia Baca, a current M.A./M.B.A. student, earned her bachelor’s degree in viola at SMU in 2020. An arts management and arts entrepreneurship minor, she conducted an independent study on how women become community leaders and presented her findings at a national conference.

Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship

Tandis Esfandiari (’23) is a social media chef, influencer and entrepreneur who has cultivated a large following through her TikTok reviews and recipes. Her website, Mixitupbaby.com., and videos are viewed internationally and have led to partnerships with companies such as Samsung.

Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship

Theatre alumna Alysia Giakoumas (’21) founded The Playground Acting Program in Dallas, offering premium acting classes for students ages eight through adult. Students learn acting techniques taught at the top universities while mastering soft skills like public speaking.

Alysia Giakaoumas, Theatre, ’21

Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship

Lidya Winnie studied arts entrepreneurship and earned a degree in markets and culture at SMU in 2019. She founded Konjo Beauty, a natural skincare brand for women with different skin colors and skin conditions.

Undergraduate Majors/Minors	Arts Entrepreneurship Arts Management
Graduate Majors/Minors	M.A./M.B.A. in Arts Management M.M. in International Arts Management

AMAE 3301 Introduction to Arts Management James Jillson	Provides a foundation in the management of arts organizations, creative enterprises and other endeavors. Students explore key issues in the management of arts organizations and events at local, regional, national and international levels.
AMAE 3387 Creative Entrepreneurship and Attracting Capital Jim Hart and James Jillson	Students gain fundamental skills in creative entrepreneurship, explore ways to attract capital, learn about legal structure and discover how to differentiate themselves from competition in the market. Topics include ideation, adaptation, pitching investors and more.
AMAE 3305 Budgeting and Financial Literacy in the Arts Maureen Mixtacki	Students learn about the financial management of arts-related businesses and creative entrepreneurship endeavors from a practical perspective. Activities include preparing a mission statement and budget, learning how to analyze financial reports and more.
AMAE 4390 Developing Creative Strategies: Planning for Success Jim Hart	Students brainstorm; develop original concepts; and explore business models, team-building and innovation to create a plan of action for a career in the arts and creative economy.
AMAE 3370 Entrepreneurship and the Hero Adventure Jim Hart	Students draw parallels between the "hero journey" structure in storytelling and the grand adventure of entrepreneurship to gain perspective and a practical structure to use to help build a unique career and life in the arts.

Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship