SPS Stories
Faculty Spotlight
Practical Skills for Thriving in the Arts Industry
Fast Facts
- Has spent her career in nonprofit arts, from arts funding to museum leadership
- She has taught in NYU SPS arts management programs for over 25 years, helping students grow their careers
- Her courses emphasize practical skills, networking, and real-world projects that prepare students for leadership roles in the arts
<p><span class="p-body">For over two decades, Cynthia Ries has dedicated her career to strengthening arts organizations and preparing the next generation of arts leaders. From her first college internship at a community arts center in the late 1970s to earning a graduate degree in arts policy, planning, and administration from NYU’s Wagner School, she has witnessed firsthand how the arts bring people together, tell stories, and build communities.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Her relationship with NYU SPS began 26 years ago when she was invited to teach a course in arts management. Since then, she has played a key role in the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/certificates/arts-leadership-accelerated.html" target="_blank">Certificate in Arts Leadership</a> and <a href="/content/sps-nyu/certificates/arts-management.html" target="_blank">Accelerated Certificate in Arts Management</a> programs, offering students knowledge, mentorship, and career connections. </span></p>
Networks are critical to career success now, and this program is rich with them.”
Preparing Leaders for a Changing Industry
<p><span class="p-body">The art world is always changing, requiring leaders who can balance creative vision with practical management skills. “The days of having a leadership role and not knowing how to fundraise or balance a budget are long gone,” Ries explains. Her courses equip students with critical skills in strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, and financial management, making sure they are prepared for leadership roles in a variety of arts organizations.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Both certificate programs are designed with flexibility in mind. The traditional six-course Arts Management certificate is asynchronous, allowing students worldwide to study at their own pace, while the accelerated program is structured for students looking to deepen their skills over a single semester.</span></p>
Real-world Learning with Immediate Impact
<p><span class="p-body">The hands-on approach in Ries’ courses ensures students leave with tangible work samples that can immediately impact their careers. “One of our recent students used a marketing plan they developed in the course for a job interview, and they got the job because they had an exceptional work sample to share,” she shares. By combining theory with real-world application, these programs provide students with the tools they need to excel in arts leadership and administration.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Whether aspiring to lead organizations, build stronger communities, or navigate the financial and strategic challenges of arts management, students in these programs gain practical, career-ready skills. “I teach in this program because I love our students and am always learning from them,” Ries says.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Make your mark on the future of the art world when you pursue a <a href="/content/sps-nyu/certificates/arts-leadership-accelerated.html" target="_blank">Certificate in Arts Leadership</a> or a <a href="/content/sps-nyu/certificates/arts-management.html" target="_blank">Certificate in Arts Management</a> at NYU SPS.</span></p>
