Creative Continuum: Business and the Creative Process
A mini MBA for Artists
There is increasing recognition in the business world that companies that will thrive in the future are the ones that will innovate radically and approach challenges creatively. This course is geared to artists and designers who would like to develop skills in applying the creativity and mind set they nurtured and developed as an artist to the business realm. This program is a unique opportunity to explore the emerging world of collaboration between the business and creative community.
Designed for working artists and designers, this unique collaborative effort between MassArt and Bentley College offers participants insight into the issues and workings of business through both lecture and working sessions. Lively lecture sessions, fashioned as a "mini-MBA," will quickly provide the student with fundamental principles of business. Then, in working sessions, participants put their creative skills and experience to use collaborating with representatives of select businesses on a real world business strategic problem or challenge.
Creative Continuum may be taken for three Graduate credits from Bentley College.
- Lecture Sessions (Ten/3hr sessions)
- Students will attend a series of lectures and case studies with Bentley professors on fundamental aspects of each major area of business. This includes a history of the business world, organizational structure, behavior and change, accounting and finance, marketing, operations, negotiation and strategy (including innovation). The lessons from the lecture sessions will inform students’ understanding of the strategic business problems addressed in the working sessions with select business representatives.
- Hands-on Working Sessions (Ten/3hr sessions)
- Students will be asked to put their creative skills and experience to use in working on a real-world business problem. Students will be divided into teams each working directly with a company on their business challenge. Groups will work independently of one another but may meet at the end of each afternoon to discuss their progress. Facilitators will work with each group throughout the project and provide assistance during the working sessions between students and company representatives. The focus will be on problem-solving as opposed to decision-making.
