This program was established in 1985 to prepare students for assuming administrative positions within performing and visual arts organizations and initiate creative entrepreneurial projects in arts and cultural businesses. The program provides students who already have experience in the arts with knowledge and understanding of the arts business, in governance, management, marketing, and finance. The program includes study in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business to equip students with administrative and aesthetic skills that enable them to assume leadership positions as entrepreneurs, planners, advocates, administrators and community organizers. Students develop research skills that enable them to gather, organize and analyzing information and apply the knowledge to problem solving in a wide variety of circumstances. Emphasis is placed on promoting the interrelated nature of the arts in support of interdisciplinary and collaborative programming that recognizes the relationship of the arts with other areas of human endeavor. EMU was a founding member of the Association of Arts Administration Educators and continues to be active in this national organization.