Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship

male teacher talks to students in an auditorium

Through our minors and three graduate programs, the Division of Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship prepares future managers, entrepreneurs and innovators for long-term careers in arts organizations, creative endeavors and the creative economy. In addition to learning high-level managerial skills, our developing arts managers can act entrepreneurially within the professional companies they work for, consequently becoming highly valuable to their organizations. Meadows’ arts entrepreneurs devise original creative concepts and strategies to build impactful organizations. Simultaneously, they acquire skills to manage their original entrepreneurial visions, organizations and teams to found and grow unique, sustainable creative endeavors of value.

Meet Our Faculty

Sandra Duhé

Chair ad interim, Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship

James Hart

Director of Arts Entrepreneurship; Professor of Practice; Director, Meadows Artist Bridge; Faculty-in-Residence of McElvaney Commons

James Ryan Jillson

Adjunct Lecturer

Maureen A. Mixtacki, CPA, CGMA

Adjunct Lecturer

Andrea Perez

Adjunct Lecturer

John Tenny

Adjunct Lecturer

Featured Courses

AMAE 3301

Introduction to Arts Management

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

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 4390

Developing Creative Strategies: Planning for Success

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

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.

Figure 1: M.A./MBA students Lucy Blaylock, Seth Braley, Myka Field and Shayla Le worked with the F.R.A.M.E. Foundation for the six-week project.

SMU M.A./MBA Students Help Launch New Nonprofit in Hands-On Consulting Project

Students
Through teamwork, creativity, and strategy, students in the dual degree M.A./MBA program help an emerging arts nonprofit in Dallas find its footing and its voice.

November 11, 2025
Figure 2: Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship alum Greg Oertel transforms generosity and great ideas into real impact at Communities Foundation of Texas.

Alumni Spotlight: Greg Oertel

Alumni
Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship alum Greg Oertel (M.A./MBA '15) leads with both creativity and strategy shaping philanthropic initiatives across Texas.

November 10, 2025
Figure 3: As Fund Manager and Strategic Advisor, Trey Bowles will bring a practical investor’s perspective to the SMU Impact Lab’s mission.

Entrepreneur and Investor Trey Bowles Partners with SMU Impact Lab as Fund Manager and Advisor

Faculty
Bowles will bring entrepreneurial expertise and investment insight to advance the Lab’s mission of purpose-driven innovation, helping build ventures that create lasting social impact.

October 22, 2025
Figure 4: Students in Meadows' year-long MMIAM program culminated their work together in Rome, Milan and the Italian countryside.

Meadows on the Move: Students Embrace Transformative Summer Opportunities Around the Globe

Students
SMU Meadows students have been pursuing a variety of opportunities all over the world this summer, from impressive internships and international programs to leading young artists and producing their own work.

July 11, 2025

Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship