Arts administration has first graduate.

By Stacy Shoemake, University Communications

When the time came for Denise Lanser to select a school to pursue her undergraduate studies, she wanted to be sure her interest in music and the arts would be represented in the curriculum. Her lifelong love for music sent her searching for a way to combine her musical interest with a practical business education. After much deliberation, Lanser selected Drury University because she knew the school was in the process of forming an arts administration major. The program, in the early stages of formation at the time, seemed like a perfect way to express her love for the arts while still pursuing a more traditional degree. This December, Lanser will be the first Drury student to graduate with a degree in the arts administration program.

Students in the arts administration program at Drury University are committed to exploring the business of art. Designed to prepare artistic individuals with the professional, economic and technical resources necessary for success within any business structure, the arts administration major combines the creativity of artistic vision with practical business experience. The new Drury major allows students to keep their love for the arts and creative expression while developing a firm sense of how to be successful in the world of business.

Designed to compliment the student’s personal artistic interest, the arts administration program combines the business major with a focus on art, music or theatre. Students in the program must major in one or minor in two of the arts areas. Classes in the business department are tailored to include projects and course work within the artistic world to bring forth the understanding of how imperative the world of business is when trying to establish a successful artistic realm within any community.

The arts administration major uniquely allows Drury students the opportunity to experience the business of art through exciting internships opportunities giving students hands-on experience within the business side of an artistic community or nonprofit organization. Students from the arts administration program at Drury have worked internship with The Resource Group for the Arts of Colorado, Springfield Regional Opera, the Magic House, and the Chamber Orchestra of the Ozarks.

Lanser, a senior from St. Louis, spent a summer working an internship for Contemporary Productions as an events producer. The position gave her experience helping plan corporate events, social and political parties, and nonprofit fundraising campaigns.

“In my internship I assisted with artist research, so I helped plan parties and events where I had to book entertainment. I was calling New York and Los Angeles getting prices from agents, and then had to try and deal down and hire an act. When the time came for the event, I had to make sure the artist got there, had everything they needed, and make sure things happened on time,” said Lanser.

Senior Samantha Snodgrass chose an internship with the Springfield Regional Opera. She used insight from a required marketing class in the arts administration program to help design ads for the opera’s presentation of Mozart: The Magic Flute during the internship experience that mirrored her desired career path.

“A few months ago I sat in a beautiful theater listening to an inspirational Schumann Concerto and was so moved by the unrelenting beauty of the music I cried for the first five minutes. I think everyone needs an experience like that in their lifetime – an experience that moves them beyond the human state to the elevation of supreme happiness. That is why I am in arts administration,” said Snodgrass.

Snodgrass plans to seek employment after graduating with a degree in arts administration that allows her to “bring the arts to the people.” Snodgrass has been immersed in the artistic world most of her life, and the arts administration degree allows her the added practicality of being prepared in the world of business as well as playing a vital role in her first passion, the world of art.

Program director Dr. Kelley Still sees the arts administration degree as a way for students to mesh the practicality of business with the improbability of the world of art. The arts administration major allows students to pursue creative endeavors while giving the peace of mind that goes along with the sensibility of a business degree.

“The arts administration major requires a minor in art history, fine arts, design arts, theatre or music. This will demonstrate to wherever they want to go, that they can work with both sides: the business side and the artistic side, and that they can get along, but also know something about it,” said Still.

As the arts administration program is ready to send its first crop of graduates down the aisle, a new dimension in the business of art is ready to come to fruition. Students entering into the work force with an arts administration degree are poised to be a step ahead of current industry professionals by combining essential business skills with a passion for the arts and a desire to make the arts a more accessible medium for all individuals to enjoy.

If interested in more information of Drury University’s arts administration degree, contact Dr. Kelley Still, coordinator for the arts administration program, at kstill@drury.edu.