Arts and Entrepreneurship: Career Strategies for Artists

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Produce professional career-related documents to support self-advocacy in the arts.
• Identify strategies for adapting personal skills and passions to opportunities in the arts that can lead to a sustainable career or entrepreneurial business.
• Articulate individual career goals or career-related ideas through multiple modes of communication.
• Practice project development, strategic planning, collaboration, synthesis, and formal presentation.
• Speak in genres appropriate to the discipline of the primary subject matter of the course.

This course aims to support students’ professional development by strengthening their ability to prepare industry-ready materials, engage meaningfully with working artists, explore career pathways across multiple sectors of the dance field, and build confidence in articulating their artistic identity, goals, and future direction.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Participation & Engagement – Includes attendance at group meetings, active involvement in class discussions, and completion of the required one-on-one meeting with the instructor.	20%
Entry Survey & Exit Survey – Two surveys that help tailor the course to your goals and assess what you gained from the experience.	5%
Five Assignment Submissions (Completed within One Chosen Track) – Students select one of three tracks—Performance/Choreography, Arts Administration, or Education—and complete all required materials for that track, including: Headshot and CV, Three versions of a professional biography, A research-based task (grant/auditions or job/grad applications), A Zoom meeting with a field professional and a 300-word reflection, A culminating project specific to the chosen track (website, admin project, or syllabus with curricula).	55%
Artist Talks (2 total) – Submit a short paragraph for each talk describing what resonated with you or what you learned.	10%
Discussion Boards (4 total) – Make one post and respond to two peers for each discussion topic.	10%

Attendance/Participation:

Participation is a central component of the course and includes attending group meetings, completing the required one-on-one meeting, and engaging fully in discussions and professional development activities.

Students are expected to be present and prepared for all scheduled class sessions, as participation directly supports the individualized and career-focused nature of the course.

Engagement also includes timely completion of surveys, active involvement in artist talks, and thoughtful contributions to discussion boards.

Late assignments are accepted to support student success; however, work submitted one day late receives a 10% deduction (of that assignment’s value), and work submitted two or more days late receives a 20% deduction.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

No course materials are required.