Every successful arts venture starts with art and an idea. Through the arts entrepreneurship minor, you’ll learn how to translate that idea into a plan that keeps your art at the center, and how to put that plan into action to build a thriving, sustainable arts business.
The 15-credit hour minor in Arts Entrepreneurship introduces students to a variety of methods arts entrepreneurs employ to make decisions about, plan, execute and sustain an arts or arts-related venture.
Course requirements for the arts entrepreneurship minor and descriptions of our courses can be found in the course catalog.
Our arts entrepreneurship minor is one of the most comprehensive programs of its kind, at an institution ranked #1 in the southeast for entrepreneurship by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine for 2022.
Collaborate with peers
Helping other students pursue their arts goals builds confidence and collaborative skills. Collaboration is crucial to sustaining and scaling any entrepreneurial venture.
Only at NC State
Both art and entrepreneurship require inspiration and cutting-edge ideas. The minor serves students who want to explore intersections between their major, art and entrepreneurship. This interdisciplinary approach only happens at NC State.
Wondering Whether Arts Entrepreneurship is for You?
If you’re passionate about music, theater, dance, art and design, communications or marketing for the arts, or have ideas for new arts inventions, products or services, the minor in arts entrepreneurship is the first step in understanding how to best position your venture to succeed in the for-profit or nonprofit arts marketplace.
You’ll learn critical entrepreneurial skills and how to best apply them in the context of your art and the marketplaces, challenges and opportunities unique to the arts, such as:
At NC State we think and do. That’s why in the capstone course of the minor, your team will serve as consultants for a North Carolina-based arts organization or arts entrepreneur.
Together you will assess a problem the venture is facing, develop innovative solutions and provide them with concrete guidance and next steps. You’ll put into practice everything you’ve learned in the classroom and develop the entrepreneurial skills necessary to sustain and grow your own arts ventures, while directly helping an artist or arts organization in your community.
Many alumni report that their arts entrepreneurship minor is one of the first things potential employers want to talk about. They are clearly curious and see the positive impact [our graduate] may have on their organization.
Dr. Gary Beckman
Director of Entrepreneurial Studies in the Arts Teaching professor, Dept. of Music
Admissions Process
Current NC State students can use the self-service Change of Degree Application (CODA) portal to add the arts entrepreneurship minor to your degree plan. Afterward, a minor advisor will contact you to discuss your goals and develop a plan of study. Prospective students do not need to declare the minor in advance of their admission to the university.
