Eastern Michigan University’s Arts Management Program
Students enrolled in Eastern Michigan University’s (EMU) Arts Management Programs (Undergraduate & Graduate) produce two-day music festivals, art competitions, face and body paint tailgating activities, art crawl events, and reality TV shows as part of an academic service learning project and student organizational activity designed to give members their first experiences as arts administrators.
The Arts Management Project (AMP) is a yearly project undertaken by students of the Arts Management program at EMU. The project, which doubles as a student organization, produces arts-based events and creates opportunities for EMU’s student artists to present their talents to the campus community.
Previous events organized by AMP include the AMP Music Fest, a two day event, featuring The Hard Lessons, a Detroit based band, and more than 20 student bands; a face & body paint tailgate activity, organized during the week of homecoming; Art Crawl, art opening featuring student work organized at an off-campus gallery; and more recently Clash of the Creators, their filmed reality TV competition.
AMP events have become well-received since their first production almost six years ago. In 2013, the organization was nominated for an award for its commitment and positive contributions to the campus community. AMP is not only AMPlifying the Arts (the organization’s tagline) on the campus community, but also achieving its mission of connecting EMU student artists with audiences, venues, and opportunities to empower them to transform their creative practices into careers.
AMP provides its student members with field experience and serves as a professional network. Members learn firsthand what it’s like to market, plan, and fundraise for events. Students also learn how to manage projects, forge partnerships, manage budgets, and work with artists. They often travel to association conferences and are kept abreast of events and other local professional development opportunities.
Membership to AMP is open to all EMU students, and governed by an eight-member board and faculty advisor. In the spring of 2013, AMP’s President was presented with the Gold Medallion Award for “Outstanding Leadership by a Student” during a ceremony hosted by the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. AMP (the organization) and the faculty advisor were also nominated for awards.
