Select one of the options below:
If you’re passionate about arts and culture and want to build a meaningful career while enriching the lives of others, this arts management degree offers the courses, faculty, community, and internship opportunities to help you succeed.
Gain the skills to become a visionary leader in the arts. The M.A.L.C.M. degree’s emphasis on mentoring, community engagement, and work outside of the classroom ensures graduates are ready to make an impact.
If you’re passionate about arts and culture and want to build a meaningful career while enriching the lives of others, this arts management degree offers the courses, faculty, community, and internship opportunities to help you succeed.
The M.A.L.C.M. degree combines theory with practical skills, covering leadership, financial management, arts policy, project planning, community engagement, and more. Other aspects that set this program apart include:
Whether your goal is to advance in a current role or launch your own arts-related business, CSU’s M.A.L.C.M. degree offers the tools and support you need to succeed. Our faculty’s extensive industry experience coupled with a personalized mentoring approach creates a unique learning environment where your passion for the arts can thrive.
Discover how CSU can help you achieve your goals and find deeper meaning in your career. Topics of study include:
Arts Management’s faculty believe the arts provide value in society and love working with future leaders who care about creating change in the communities they serve through art and culture.
The Arts Management program understands the crucial role internships play in bridging the gap between learning and professional experience. The program remains committed to helping students secure meaningful internship opportunities that align with their career goals.
The M.A.L.C.M. degree supports students seeking leadership roles within existing organizations and those aspiring to start their own ventures. This entrepreneurial focus allows students to take control of their career paths.
Potential career opportunities in arts leadership and cultural management include:
The Master of Arts Leadership and Cultural Management degree is a 32-credit program of study that includes a core curriculum focusing on arts leadership, community engagement, policy, and advocacy fundamentals. Students also take a minimum of 9 credits of approved electives that will customize their academic track to focus on their desired field of study.
Additionally, students must have two separate semester-long internships to round out their practical training. Academic advisors can help students identify an appropriate internship opportunity at a local, regional, national, or international arts organization in their area of specialization.
Students may also choose electives in other departments. The first step in this process is meeting with Arts Management’s program coordinator, Brigid McAuliffe who will help select appropriate courses and assist with gaining approval from outside departments.
Elective courses offered by Arts Management provide skills in cultural management, arts leadership, arts entrepreneurship, arts policy, arts advocacy, and public engagement. However, in some cases, you may want to explore electives outside the arts management department. To do this, first meet with the program coordinator, Brigid McAuliffe, who will help you choose the appropriate courses and assist with gaining approval from outside departments if needed.
Other topic areas may also be useful. Given that you are earning a degree that will prepare you for leadership positions, think creatively about what skills and knowledge you may need.
"The arts management program far exceeded my expectations. It really changed who I am as a person, changed my mindset, the things that I thought were possible in my own life. I learned so much about the process of how to start a small business."
– Lex. L
"I wanted something that intersected business, administration, arts, and leadership. I also wanted an element of service, of giving back. CSU offered the perfect program. I apply a lot of what I learned about leadership and organization in my career, especially budget and timeline creation, law, and goal setting. The ability for artists to advocate for themselves and others is priceless. That was my biggest takeaway."
– L. Young
"I entered the program with a dream to serve my community through the arts. CSU helped me develop the leadership and organizational skills to make that dream real. From launching free music lessons to coordinating large-scale events, I now understand how policy, budgeting, and strategic planning can make arts education accessible. This program helped me connect my background, values, and career into one clear mission!"
– Alfredo R.
"As an active artist and arts educator stepping into a leadership position, I was looking for a program that would strengthen my administrative skills while deepening my leadership abilities. The Master's in Arts Leadership and Cultural Management program at CSU was an ideal fit. This program served as a catalyst for my professional growth, equipping me with practical tools and strategic frameworks that I integrated into my work almost immediately. This program has broadened my perspectives and created new opportunities for my professional advancement."
– Jason K.
Dr. Michael Seman is an assistant professor of arts management at Colorado State University where he is also the director of the Arts Management program. Michael’s work examines issues in the creative economy, most recently the economic, cultural, and social impacts of music venues. The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, CNN, and regional media outlets often seek Michael’s perspective and insights. His work is published in various academic journals, edited volumes, CityLab, and most recently by the Brookings Institution; he has also co-authored music and film strategies and creative economy reports for the City of Denver and the State of Colorado. Michael also created the Music Venue Economic Impact Calculator for the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). He previously managed daytime programming for two music festivals in Denton, Texas and spent several years as an internal marketing executive at Creative Artists Agency in Beverly Hills, California. He is represented by the Creative Class Group for speaking engagements.
Brigid.Mcauliffe@colostate.edu
Brigid McAuliffe, MFA sees art as transformative – enriching lives, fostering deeper connections, and strengthening communities. She’s the coordinator and also an instructor for the Arts Management graduate program at Colorado State University. Since 2012, Brigid has served as the director and co-founder of Picture Me Here, a participatory arts and storytelling program for refugees and immigrants. She was an Artist in Residence at El Levante (Argentina), PlatteForum (Denver) and Elsewhere (Paonia). Her projects have been featured on National Public Radio, Colorado Public Radio, and Rocky Mountain PBS.
Brigid taught as a visiting professor at Indiana University South Bend and adjunct instructor at University of Colorado Denver and the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. She’s served as a co-facilitator for Story Center and was the Community Media Specialist for the Piton Foundation’s Children’s Corridor Initiative where she trained community organizers and residents in low-income Denver neighborhoods how to craft and share their stories using accessible digital tools. She has a MFA in Emerging Digital Practice from the University of Denver and a BFA in Photography from Colorado State University. She’s exhibited her work internationally and curated Picture Me Here exhibits in the US and Nepal.
Jill has 25 years of experience in the public arts and culture sector. From 2003 to 2016, Jill was the Director of Cultural Services for the City of Fort Collins. In this role, she spearheaded Fort Collins’ first Cultural Plan and nominated the City for the 2011 Governor’s Arts Award, which the community received. She was proud to direct the Department’s two largest capital projects: the $8.4 million renovation of the Lincoln Center and the $27 million public/private partnership that is the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.
Jill has facilitated large vision-oriented projects, like master plans and community cultural plans, but also enjoys the personal aspects of team building and board development. Jill shares her experience with others as an adjunct faculty member at the LEAP Institute for the Arts at Colorado State University and at Front Range Community College. She teaches courses in arts management and museum studies and learns as much from her students as they do from her. Jill also engages with her local community through activities like presenting at Start-Up Week.
Jill has a bachelor’s degree in fine art from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in art history and museum studies from the University of Denver. She is certified through the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) in planning effective public participation processes.
David's 35-year career in the arts and business has been fueled by his education in music, painting, and chemistry. He's managed consumer brands in the artist's products category, serving as Director of Marketing for Winsor+Newton and then Brand Director for Liquitex. In 2000, his book, What Every Artist Needs to Know About Paints and Colors, was published by Krause. Over the last 15 years, he’s served as Publisher for the largest media brands in the fine art-making and crafting categories, most recently as Senior Vice President/Group Publisher with F+W Media managingThe Artist’s Magazine, American Artist, Watercolor Artist, Interweave Knits, Love of Quilting and, online, ArtistsNework.com, ArtistsNetwork.TV, QuiltingDaily.com and Interweave.com and more.
Through it all he's continued to paint and he just finished a project with the Central City Opera as "Painter in Residence" for their 2021 season. In 2020, he left the corporate media world and launched a number of art-making initiatives, a new marketing services group called Pyle Creative Studio, and a series of educational resources for the art and science community.
Rachel May Smith, PhD is a visionary leader in the arts education and nonprofit sectors, with a track record of revitalizing programs, leading creative initiatives, and driving organizational growth. She has over 15 years of expertise in program management, strategic planning, and fostering inclusive cultural experiences and has worked with renowned institutions like California State University, Sundance Institute, and the Corita Art Center. Her thought leadership has been spotlighted across major platforms including CBS Sunday Morning, NPR, The Guardian, and Zocalo Public Square. From managing multimillion-dollar budgets to innovating virtual experiences, Dr. Smith combines creativity and operational expertise to shape the future of arts education and cultural programming.
Lynn Boland, PhD joined CSU as the director of the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art in July 2017, bringing more than 20 years of experience in various academic and university museum roles. Dr. Boland received a master’s and doctoral degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Their publications and exhibitions have received awards from the College Art Association, the Southeastern College Art Conference, the Art Libraries Society of North America, Southeastern Museum Conference, and the American Alliance of Museums; their research and publications have received support from the NEA, the Kress Foundation, and the Getty Foundation, among others.
Jack has worked in the performing arts for over 24 years. During that time he has been an artist, and advocate, a tour manager, a festival producer, a venue director, and worn countless other hats. Jack received his BFA in Acting with a minor in dance and a concentration in music from Long Island University at CW Post. Jack has received multiple awards for his performance work both professionally and academically. He received his MPA in Nonprofit Management from Georgia State University. As an advocate, Jack served as Vice President of Programming for the Georgia Arts Network, the state’s official arts advocacy organization. Jack has served as a juror on programming committees for the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs, the Georgia Assembly of Community Arts Agencies, Georgia Presenters, and the Southern Arts Federation’s Performing Arts Exchange. Jack’s interests include multi-disciplinary collaboration, event management-safety and security, advocacy, and performing arts programming. Jack is a member of Actor’s Equity of America, Americans for the Arts, the International Association of Venue Managers, and the Western Arts Alliance. Jack currently provides administrative, artistic, and operational leadership to The Lincoln Center, a multi-venue events facility and Northern Colorado’s largest performing arts presenter.
Zhanna Gurvich is an award-winning designer and painter who has designed for theatre, dance, opera, and film at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Joyce Theatre, Chautauqua Opera, and the Juilliard Theatre. Ms. Gurvich’s favorite designs include Radiance for Axial Theatre Co., Hello and Goodbye for Rattlestick Theatre, Ladies in Retirement and Chaos Theory for Pulse Ensemble Theatre, The Most Dangerous Room in the House for The Susan Marshall Dance Company, Tears for Violetta and Tierra del Nadie for Ballet Hispanico, The Seagull, Man and Superman, and Three Sisters for Juilliard, In the Air and La Llorona for Stageplays Theatre, Hansel and Gretel for Chautauqua Opera, Ping Pong Diplomacy, Havana Bourgeoisie, and Billboard for Reverie Productions, and Luck for Epic Rep. Ms. Gurvich received an HOLA Award for Outstanding Set Design for her work on La Llorona. She has painted for Scenic Art Studios, Goodspeed Opera House, Virginia Opera, Dallas Theatre Center, Mannes Opera, and The Mint Theatre Company, including critically acclaimed portraits for Mary Broome and a mural for Black Snow. Ms Gurvich is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829 and holds a B.F.A. in Studio Art from Clark University, as well as an M.F.A. in Stage Design from Southern Methodist University, with a concentration in scenery and lighting design.
| Fall semester | July 1 |
| Spring semester | December 1 |
Start your application online and upload materials directly into the online system. You can save your progress and return any time.
Apply NowApplicants should possess an undergraduate degree, as well as potential for advanced study as evidenced by academic achievement. In cases where an applicant is deficient in background, faculty may consider applicants with significant work history in the field of arts administration. In addition, student selection is based on an individual student's maturity and motivation to succeed in graduate study and in the profession of arts administration.
Minimum admission requirements include:
Prepare the materials below and upload when you apply online.
Complete the online graduate application and pay the nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online). As soon as you have completed the required information, please submit your application. Your application will not be reviewed until it is complete and all required materials have been received.
CSU's Graduate School offers several application fee waiver opportunities. Visit their website to determine if you are eligible for a waiver.
Request one official transcript of all collegiate work completed from all institutions attended. Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required. Transcripts must be received directly from the originating institution to be considered official.
Please Note: Students may be unconditionally admitted and registered in their first semester of courses with an unofficial transcript. Official transcripts must be submitted, prior to or during your first semester, before you can register for your second semester of graduate work. Failure to meet this condition will result in your dismissal from the Graduate School.
Electronic (preferred): Digital Transcripts must be submitted by the originating institution using a secure service such as parchment, eScrip-Safe, the National Student Clearinghouse, or e-Quals. Transcripts received via emails are considered unofficial. Use institution code 4075 for Colorado State University or gradadmissions@colostate.edu if the secure service requires an email address.
Mail (if necessary) Graduate Admissions Colorado State University – Office of Admissions 1062 Campus Delivery Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062
View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.
Once your complete application, including supporting materials, is received, the department admission committee will review your application and notify you of their decision.
Proof of English language proficiency is required for applicants from countries or United States territories where there are official languages other than (or in addition to) English. This includes the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.
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