MSU Offers Arts Management Course, "How to Run a Nonprofit Arts Organization"

Montclair State University is offering a new course, taught by MSU's first "Distinguished Visiting Professor" Dr. Neil Baldwin."How to Run a Nonprofit Arts Organization" is offered in conjunction with MSU's Master of Arts program in Arts Management, however, it may also be taken as a free-standing course. Meeting Mondays (5:30-8 pm) beginning Sept.8th, the course is well suited for anyone working (or aspiring to work) in the field of arts administration and/or contemplating pursuing a degree in Arts or Museum Management. Questions about the course, including how to register, may be directed to Dr. Baldwin who may be reached by email at baldwinn@mail.montclair.edu or phone (973-655-7340).

Course Description:

*THTR 509 – Fall 08 - HOW TO RUN A NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION - Mondays, 5:30-8:00 pm* There are over one million nonprofit organizations in America. Deciding upon the right career path for yourself can be a daunting task without the guidance that THTR 509 will provide. According to the annual Outlook Commentary for the current year published on January 10th in the "Chronicle of Philanthropy," a major 2008-09 job trend for the nonprofit profession is “philanthropy and public service becoming cool.” Vision and passion matter will more and more; successful players in the field will increasingly be drawn from the ranks of the “digital native” generation as the baby boomers begin to retire. Furthermore, according to Dr. Russell Cargo, president of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council, http://www.naccouncil.org “Nonprofit management doesn’t have the same history as public administration or business management or sociology or any of the other disciplines.” This course will be a noteworthy addition to MSU’s growing portfolio as a cutting-edge participant in educating the next generation of nonprofit arts leaders. It will be hands-on, pragmatic, case/experience based, and mission-driven. The course will explore the spectrum of the field from community-level, modestly-budgeted storefront, all the way up to well-established multi-million-dollar institutions, and will examine the creative and managerial challenges and problems unique to each echelon, as well as pertinent to all. Topics to be covered will begin with such essential building-blocks as drawing up a viable mission statement to staff recruitment to space requirements to budget-building; and will continue into board development and stewardship; fundraising for restricted projects and general operating purposes; public relations and “branding;” the hows and whys of program creation, implementation and assessment; and the right way to engage in long-range planning to ensure the future of the organization in difficult economic times.

About the instructor: A widely-published, critically-acclaimed biographer and historian, Dr. Neil Baldwin spent his entire career in the nonprofit sector. He was a pioneer in the nascent artists-in-schools movement of the early 1970s; went on to management positions in such organizations as Teachers & Writers Collaborative and Poets & Writers; ran his own consulting company in NYC in the 1980s specializing in institutional development for community nonprofits; and was the Manager of the Annual Fund and co-director of the $350-million Campaign for The New York Public Library. Prior to joining the MSU CART faculty, Dr. Baldwin served from 1989-2003 as the founding executive director of the National Book Foundation, sponsor of the prestigious National Book Awards. More information regarding Distinguished Professor Dr. Baldwin may also be found on his web site, www.neilbaldwinbooks.com.