Suri Xia

October 23, 2015

Arts Mean Business - navigating the creative industry as a political science major.

So, can a non-artist land in the field of arts management and survive? The short answer is: Yes. But there is much more to the story.

This summer, I completed an internship with the Asian American Arts Alliance in New York City and through this unique leadership development program that is sponsored by the Arts and Business Council of New York, I have gained a better understanding of what is it like to work behind the scenes of cultural organizations. I am amazed and fascinated by how complex the nonprofit arts sector really is and the amount of interdisciplinary knowledge that it requires to succeed.

During my presentation, I look forward to share my personal journey on finding the connections between my area of studies and the public interests in the arts. I also hope to address why is it important for us to emphasize the arts’ cultural representations, social responsibilities, and above all, how to incorporate them into our daily tasks as an advocate for the arts.