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Learn how the online MA in Museum Studies at CUNY SPS can help you get ahead on your own terms in our latest #NYFAPartner spotlight.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States has collectively pivoted towards online platforms to conduct business and stay connected and informed. Prior to the crisis, however, there was a growing trend in online education as a way for individuals to gain new knowledge and a competitive edge in a diverse range of industries while balancing other life priorities. We recently spoke with three current students in the online Master of Arts in Museum Studies program at the CUNY School of Professional Studies to learn how they are building community through a first-class education, and how the program is setting them up for success in the museum field after graduation. We also gained insights from Jenna Coplin, Program Manager of the Museum Studies program.

Before museum administrator Jinelle Thompson started the MA in Museum Studies degree program in 2019, she had concerns about whether an online program would enable her to make connections with students, faculty, and practitioners in the field. She’s since found that the “discussions in this program are rich, and my colleagues are often providing insightful and compelling responses to each topic we learn.” The MA in Museum Studies program, which was developed in collaboration with the New-York Historical Society (N-YHS), offers practical assignments that introduce students to specific roles within museum settings and provide a strong foundation for a museum career. Thompson also noted that learning from professors and guest lecturers who work in museums provides both a current look at what’s happening in the field and gives insights into their unique career trajectories. Thompson, who wants to pursue museum work in public programs, education, and community outreach/engagement with an interest in amplifying artists from the Caribbean diaspora, recommends the program for its flexibility and its comprehensiveness: “It’s definitely still a lot of work, but the flexibility that I have and being able to still work is the best part of it for me. Through each class, I am learning the best practices and the ins and outs of museum education, finance, development, and curation and how these departments work alone and together."

Second-term student Rachel Pitkin, who already holds one master’s degree, has found that she interacts “just as much if not more with my classmates—intellectually speaking, at least” than in the smaller, seminar-style classes she was accustomed to from her past in-person educational experience. “Because our interactions revolve around very pointed questions related to the course, our engagements are very specific and thought-provoking,” she added. Like Thompson, she’s also benefited from the N-YHS partnership: “Our professors are incredibly knowledgeable and invested in the program, and it shows through their course design and online interactions with us.” Pitkin applied to the Museum Studies program with the goal of contributing to LGBTQ-oriented institutions, and has been able to design her individual projects around this focus. A current exhibition project at the LGBT National History Archives, where she has researched and volunteered regularly, underscores how the program is helping to support her previously-established professional work as an educator and historian.

Museum administrator John Sapida, who also started the program in 2019, set out with the goal of becoming a more well-rounded museum professional who can help shape the direction of in-person, blended, and online learning for museums. “Museums are changing with the times, and we need to find opportunities to help scaffold museums along the right path,” he said. Sapida finds the program helps him balance work, life, school, and hobbies, and pushes him to do his best. “Weekly discussions with other students, professionals, and instructors are often the highlight of the courses. As we share our knowledge and experiences with each other, I am finding that my peers in the program play a huge part in pushing my own limits and exercising my own creative and critical thinking about the topics we are covering.”

Those not in New York City still form connections through clear and consistent communication in the online learning environment, said Jenna Coplin. “Students can contact faculty to directly schedule meetings during their weekly office hours. Meetings can be one-on-one or in groups and may be conducted remotely using video chat, for example.” Three of five required courses have a practicum component that is designed to engage students in the experience of doing museum work; students participating remotely can view the events via livestream from anywhere they have internet access. The video recordings from each practicum session are archived for those who are unable to attend, and courses build on materials from the practicum throughout the semester. Courses include curation, technology, and education as well as administration and finance—all geared towards providing students with a broad background on the practical application of museum work and operations. “Students emerging from the program will be prepared to work in a variety of museum-related fields with an eye to the concern for diversity and inclusiveness, something often overlooked in current museum practice,” said Coplin.

Coplin reinforced that almost all current students work, many full-time and with family or other responsibilities. Pitkin expressed confidence in being prepared for what lies ahead: “Because of its rigor, and the ability of most students to multi-manage the demands of the program with the demands of their work, I feel strongly that students in the CUNY SPS program will already have an edge in being able to handle the wide-ranging job demands that museum professionals are expected to be ready for in today's field. Diversifying the museum field means finding mechanisms to allow a diverse array of people to access preparatory programs, and this program is doing that. ”

Interested in learning more about CUNY’s Master of Arts in Museum Studies program? Register to attend this May 12 online information session. Explore the program’s curriculum, and apply for the Fall 2020 semester by Monday, May 18, 2020. 

-Amy Aronoff, Senior Communications Officer

This post is part of a regular blog series highlighting #NYFAPartner sponsor organizations, and the third in our “Get Into Grad School” series on NYFA Current. Follow NYFA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to see the latest news about each #NYFAPartner. Sign up for NYFA’s bi-weekly newsletter, NYFA News, to receive announcements about future NYFA events and programs.

“Tulsa Artist Fellowship has afforded me the time, space, and financial support to refocus and shift my energy.” - Kalup Linzy

Time, space, and stability are three of the most precious resources an artist can have. In our latest #NYFAPartner spotlight, we’re pleased to share a unique opportunity that offers all three of these resources to artists and arts workers: Tulsa Artist Fellowship. Tulsa Artist Fellowship was established in 2015 by the George Kaiser Family Foundation with the goal of bringing professional artists to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kalup Linzy (NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow in Video/Film ’15), United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, and multidisciplinary artist Crystal Z Campbell are just a few of the sixty artists and arts workers participating in the Fellowship.

Here are three reasons why you may want to add this opportunity to your application calendar, and apply by September 6, 2019.

You Can Laser Focus on Your Art

Tulsa Artist Fellowship is a merit-based award that aims to provide the financial stability and resources that artistic practitioners of all kinds need to “wholeheartedly pursue” their contemporary arts practices. These resources include:

One-year, unrestricted $20,000 award

Fully subsidized housing and studio space in Downtown Tulsa’s Arts and Greenwood Districts

Relocation package

Access to arts industry leaders

Diverse platforms for sharing in-process and finished works including exhibitions, publications, and public programming

What’s more, each Fellow can apply to renew their Fellowship for a second year. For many artists, a full-time arts practice is unattainable due to the need to cover living expenses. A program like Tulsa Artist Fellowship can furnish the support an artist needs to devote a substantial amount of time to current projects, explore new approaches, plan ahead, and build their arts career.

You Bring a Lot to the Table

Tulsa Artist Fellowship brings people together from different places, with diverse perspectives and experiences. Socially invested arts practitioners live, make, and intentionally engage with a city that is distinctly positioned at the center of coastal cultural conversations. In Tulsa, they make introductions, they tell stories, they share meals, they work. Fellows past, present, and future represent a wide range of disciplines, from writers and filmmakers to installation artists and curators. Acknowledging the land the program resides upon, Tulsa Artist Fellowship designates awards for Alaska Native, Native American, and Native Hawaiian artists and arts workers.

You Can Join and Cultivate a Community

Community engagement plays a central role in Tulsa Artist Fellowship. Fellows participate in symposia, readings, performances, open studios, and publications in order to foster connections within the city. Tulsa was recently named one of the world’s top ten design cities by Metropolis Magazine, and Fellows live and work in the Tulsa Arts District, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Tulsa, or the Greenwood District, home of the Greenwood Cultural Center. “The commitment from George Kaiser Family Foundation to support artists and arts workers is groundbreaking,” says Carolyn Sickles, Executive Director of Tulsa Artist Fellowship. “We are dedicated to solving systemic challenges that have historically impacted the arts community, and Tulsa is becoming a place where arts practitioners, many for the first time, are living healthy and sustainable lives.”

Ready to apply? Find application details here.

- Mirielle Clifford, Program Officer, Online Resources

This post is part of a regular blog series highlighting #NYFAPartner sponsor organizations on NYFA Current. Follow NYFA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to see the latest news about each #NYFAPartner. Sign up for NYFA’s bi-weekly newsletter, NYFA News, to receive announcements about future NYFA events and programs.

In our latest #NYFAPartner spotlight, learn how you can elevate your skills and enhance your knowledge of the museum sector without making difficult financial sacrifices.

Professionals who entered the workforce after completing an undergraduate degree may find themselves at a crossroads, wondering whether they should attend graduate school to gain new skills and expand potential career opportunities. They may hesitate to disrupt their working life by attending a traditional program, possibly in a new city or state. This decision is especially daunting if enrolling would result in high tuition costs or the burden of significant student debt. However, they may recognize that a master’s degree could help them gain the expertise they need to advance in their career path, as well as increase their lifetime earning potential. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics points out, “the more you learn, the more you earn.” Working adults with master’s degrees can earn up to 20% more than those with a bachelor’s degree alone.

Fortunately, more and more universities are offering online degree programs to better serve a diverse pool of students who need to work, or prefer to work, while continuing their education. It is with this in mind that The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to feature a new program as part of our “Get Into Grad School” series: the Online Master of Arts in Museum Studies, developed by the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) in collaboration with New-York Historical Society (N-YHS).

Welcoming its first cohort in the fall of 2019, the CUNY SPS MA in Museum Studies pairs the flexibility of an online degree program with the hands-on expertise of the oldest on-going museum in New York City, N-YHS. Read on for three ways this program could jump-start your career while allowing you to maintain your current work schedule and balance your existing responsibilities.

Learn on Your Own Time

The CUNY SPS MA in Museum Studies gives students a well-rounded set of skills in administration, finance, curation, and education that are applicable in any museum setting. All classwork can be completed online, allowing professionals in New York City, the metropolitan area, and beyond to participate. The practicum component incorporates the extensive resources of N-YHS to bring the program’s online instruction to life. This element of the degree offers a sense of immersion in the cultural life of New York City’s institutions, without requiring students to live in New York City. If needed, an online option for the practicum can be provided for those who are unable to participate in person.

CUNY SPS is consistently well regarded by publications like U.S. News & World Report, which ranked the School in the top 5% of online degree programs in the United States. This high ranking is partially due to the fact that all online CUNY SPS courses are recorded and archived so students can access them at any time.

Advance Your Career with an Affordable Degree

The graduate tuition at CUNY SPS is among the lowest in the Northeastern United States, and financial aid counselors can help students find the resources needed to ensure their degree is affordable. What’s more, CUNY SPS’ in-state tuition rate is available to all online students, even if they don’t live in New York State. A tuition-only scholarship is available to students admitted as part of the program’s first cohort and in support of diversity and inclusion initiatives within the field. The majority of CUNY SPS students work full time, a testament to the flexibility and convenience of their online programs.

Prepare for the Museums of Today and Tomorrow

Museum audiences are gradually becoming more diverse, but historically excluded groups are still underrepresented among museum staff and leadership. The Online MA in Museum Studies degree at CUNY SPS hopes to change that with the help of a curriculum in which “the underlying and constant thread is diversity and inclusiveness, a critical and often overlooked aspect of current museum practice.” Because the program emphasizes affordability and can accommodate a student’s full-time workweek, CUNY SPS hopes to make a master’s degree more feasible for a wider range of arts and culture professionals. In the words of CUNY SPS Dean John Mogulescu, the School always seeks “innovative ways of addressing emerging needs,” and the collaboration with N-YHS adds a unique advantage, as “our collective future must be shaped and informed by the preservation of our past.”

After completion of the program, students will be prepared to work in a range of roles in a variety of museum settings, from curatorial and archival work to education and operations, bringing with them practical skills, an understanding of the historical underpinnings of museums in the United States, and the tools needed to serve all audiences.

Want to learn more? Explore the program’s curriculum here, and attend an Online Information Session on June 12. The Priority deadline for Fall 2019 is July 8, and the Final deadline is July 22.

— Mirielle Clifford, Program Officer, Online Resources

This post is part of a regular blog series highlighting #NYFAPartner sponsor organizations, and the second in our “Get Into Grad School” series on NYFA Current. Follow NYFA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to see the latest news about each #NYFAPartner. Sign up for NYFA’s bi-weekly newsletter, NYFA News, to receive announcements about future NYFA events and programs.

5 Reasons Why Getting Organized Can Grow Your Arts Business

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) works to help artists build sustainable careers in the arts. One essential quality of a viable arts business? Organization. For that reason, we’re pleased to share a guest essay from Justin Anthony, who cofounded Artwork Archive in 2010 with John Feustel. Artwork Archive is an online resource that gives artists, collectors, and organizations the tools to organize their artwork and manage their inventory. Below, Anthony spells out why an organized arts business is a successful arts business, and explains how Artwork Archive can help.

Ever waste time trying to find information or images for a potential buyer? Have you double-booked or double-sold an artwork to two different galleries? Do you put off invoicing customers or sending out price lists to galleries, and hate sitting down with spreadsheets?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above, you are not alone. Most artists find it difficult to stay organized with so many other obligations. But with a little daily maintenance, having an organized arts business can save you stress and elevate your career.

The hardest part of getting organized is the very first step of creating a detailed studio inventory. Without it, the foundation of your arts business will be shaky. There are many reasons to keep accurate inventory records of your art studio, such as for insurance purposes, taxes, and to keep your business running smoothly.

Here are five ways you can grow your art business by getting organized with tools like Artwork Archive.

1. Stress less and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Who wants to waste time rifling through notebooks, desktop folders, receipts, and emails to find critical information? It’s chaotic, takes away from your time in the studio, and keeps clients and galleries waiting. Artwork Archive helps you avoid this scenario and easily track your inventory, contacts, galleries, sales, and more.

“I knew I needed to get organized.” said artist Amy Ritter. “I think that’s the most important thing about being an artist, is that it is a business. The more organized you are, the less stressed out you are.”

Having everything that’s essential to your business in one place allows you more creative energy and mental space to innovate and enjoy your work. Focus on your next brilliant idea, not where your artwork is, who purchased it, or where it’s going next.

2. Spend more time doing what you love.

As a professional artist, you have to be your own marketing team, shipping department, administrative assistant, CEO, financial advisor, and more. It’s a lot to juggle.

“I’m a painter, not an administrator,” painter Terrill Welch told us. “Anything that successfully keeps my brushes in my hands and still allows me to run my business is essential.”

With an inventory management solution like Artwork Archive, you can free up hundreds of hours and create invoices, inventory lists, and labels with a click of a button.

3. Present yourself and your artwork professionally.

Ever invoiced someone on a scrap piece of paper or Post-It note? Avoid slapdash invoices and showcase your business in the best light. Professionalism is key to any flourishing arts business, and professional reports are a fantastic way to display yours.

Whether it’s an invoice, price list, consignment sheet, or gallery labels, professional reports are an easy and fast way to impress buyers, collectors, and galleries alike. When they see you as the efficient professional you are, they are more likely to treat you and your art business the way you both deserve. This greatly affects future business relationships.

And why wait to get organized? Inventory management systems like Artwork Archive help you stay on top of deadlines, follow-up with clients, and easily generate polished PDF reports. “I wish I would have known how important it is to have accurate archives and records when I was first starting out,” said artist Caitlin G McCollom. “Years later when I was established, I had to do months of data entry to get caught up. Artwork Archive was a life-saver for this process.”

4. Make more informed decisions.

Getting insights into your art business with Artwork Archive’s reports, charts, and maps helps you stay on track, put your efforts into what's working, and eliminate what isn't. Whether it’s knowing the value of your inventory versus your sales or understanding which galleries are pulling their weight, these numbers help you make informed decisions about growing your business.

5. Make better connections and share your art with the world.

Having a quality online presence builds a successful and compelling brand. It shows you’re active in your art practice and makes it easier to connect with collectors.

Leverage Artwork Archive’s platform to gain exposure and get your work in front of potential buyers. The Public Profile, Presentation Mode, and other share options on Artwork Archive provide easy-to-use ways to showcase your art.

Beyond a clean and easy way to highlight your artwork and career accomplishments, the online portfolio is linked straight to your inventory, so it’s updated automatically. Showcase your work and connect with collectors—no web design experience necessary.

Ready to streamline your arts business?

At the end of the day, being organized helps you get paid on time, streamline your sharing process, gain access to bigger opportunities, and present yourself professionally. Try Artwork Archive for free here, and build a strong foundation for your arts business.

- Guest Essay by Justin Anthony, Artwork Archive Co-Founder