The Arts Extension Service (AES), is a national arts service organization working to serve serving the arts through classes, training programs, workshops, symposia, research, consulting, and publications.
AES is the nation's leading provider of professional arts management education and offers 3 online Certificates in Arts Management, the nation's only online Arts Management bachelor's degree, and an Undergraduate Certificate. AES offers 14 courses that teach the fundamentals of Arts Management, plus advanced courses such as Cultural Equity in the Arts, Cultural Policy and Advocacy, Creative Economy and Placemaking, Leading Sustainable and Resilient Arts Organizations, and Creative Community Development. Courses are available online, and are open for credit or noncredit to anyone in the US or internationally.
AES provides consulting and research services, and training programs including Artist-in-Business, Public Art, Community Engagement, Art and Sustainability, and more for nonprofits, state, regional, and local arts agencies.
Our book, The Fundamentals of Arts Management, now in its 6th Edition, is utilized by 45% of colleges and universities that teach arts management. It is a trusted 'how-to' for arts managers and state arts agency staff who are looking for a comprehensive resource for arts nonprofit organizations. Chapters include Arts Policy, Creative Placemaking, and Greening Your Arts Nonprofit Organization.
AES and the UMass Special Collections and University Archives host the National Arts Policy Archives and Library which welcomes scholars and those interested in arts arts policy to access the online archives which includes materials from the National Endowment for the Arts, Americans for the Arts, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, TAAC, and several private collections.
AES launched the Arts Entrepreneurship Initiative to serve artists and arts organizations by connecting internship providers with students via two internship fairs annually. Closer to home, AES helped launch the ArtsHub of Western Mass (www.ArtsHubWMa.org), an online resource for creatives in collaboration with NEFA to promote the region's creatives and the creative economy, offer professional development; grant, space, job information, an events calendar, and much more.
The Arts Extension Service has served the arts field, artists, arts nonprofits, and state and local arts agencies since 1973.
