Arts Administration inaugural cohort internships and capstone project

The field of arts administration prioritizes experience. The Professional Internship is the required, culminating experience of the MAA and applies and synthesizes coursework. The internship typically occurs during the Summer semester (May-August). The internship site is flexible and can be completed with an organization or in a geographic area of the student’s choosing. Students take ownership in finding and applying for their internships, with the Head of the program approving all internship placements. There are paid internship opportunities available.

Here is list of organizations that hosted student internships for the inaugural MAA cohort, Summer 2021

• Arts West
• Cannabis Museum
• Southeast Ohio History Center
• Cincinnati Art Museum
• Odyssey Associates and White Heron Theatre Company
• Dairy Barn
• West Virginia Symphony Orchestra
• University of Toledo, Department of Music
• Explorium: Denton Children’s Museum
• TheatreWashington
• West Virginia Symphony Orchestra – Parkersburg
• Tantrum Theater
• Zanesville Museum of Art
• Actors Theatre of Louisville
• Stuart’s Opera House
• The Sculpture Center
• Monteux School and Music Festival

MAA Final Capstone Projects and Oral Presentations

A signature of the MAA program is the Final Capstone Project. Students use academic research and apply knowledge and experiences in the field to identify a specific topic of interest. Possible capstone topics might include: Creative Placemaking, Community Engagement, Funding Challenges, Leadership and Strategic Programming, Building Audiences, Socially Engaged Practices, Social Media Policies, Equity and Access in the Arts, Public/Private Partnerships, Collections Management, Board Building, and etcetera.

The project might be research focused, interactive, geared towards problem solving, or community-based in its approach. The purpose is to provide students with the opportunity to both deepen and demonstrate mastery in the field of arts administration and to further tailor the program to their professional practice; building a broad portfolio to take into a career in arts leadership. The Capstone projects are designed to reflect critical thinking, solving challenging problems, and developing skills (communication, public speaking, research, media/social literacy, teamwork, policy, planning, advocacy, etc). Students also prepare a Final Oral Presentation that clearly organizes an overview of their final capstone project. The work is presented to a panel of professionals and scholars working in the field of arts administration.

Inaugural MAA cohort (2020-2021) List of Final Capstone Projects

A Synthesis on Community Engagement in the Arts and Community-Based Events
Student: Paula Atfield

Split Decisions: The Relationship Between the U.S. Government and Cannabis: The Exhibition and Research of an Arts Administrator
Student: Rachel Black

From Accession to Exhibit: The Life and Journey of an Object at the Southeast Ohio History Center
Student: Will Daughters

Restructuring Annual Fund Communications at the Cincinnati Art Museum
Student: Lauren Gaines

White Heron Theatre Company
Student: Lloyda Garrett

Project Funding in Art Organizations: Community Remembrance Quilt
Student: Grace Gribble

Capacity Building for a State Symphony Orchestra
Student: Madeline Helbling

Art Nouveau and the Counterculture Movement: The Evolution of the Modern Poster 
Student: Tiana Hough

Curriculum Development Plan for The University of Toledo, Department of Music
Student: Nate Krebs

Foundational Documents: How They Drive the Work of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra - Parkersburg
Student: Kenna McWilliams

Development and Implementation of Play Experiences in a Small to Midsize Children’s Museum
Student: Sarah Melaragno

Theatre Washington: An Analysis of the Restructuring Process of a Predominantly White Institution
Student: Ri Moodie

ARTStart: The Creation of an Arts-Based Preschool Program for a Non-Profit Organization
Student: Alexis Parsons

Accessibility in an Appalachian Theater
Student: Samantha Pelham

ZMA Learn With Us: Impact Study on the Effects of Facilitated Multi-Visit Museum Programs on 4th Grade Students
Student: Rebecca Roderer

The Art of Anti-racist Administration: (r)evolution in best practices for a new era of arts leadership
Student: E.B. Smith

Anti-Racism In the Arts: 5 Questions Arts Administrators Should Ask Themselves And Why
Student: Devin Sudman

Summer Performing Arts Camp: Reexamining practices for effective engagement
Student: Emily Talley

Creating a Programming Survey for The Sculpture Center
Student: Alicia Telzerow

Peering Through the Musical Looking Glass of Arts Administration
Student: Clayton E. Yoshifuku