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>
Accessibility
Digital Privacy Statement
University Policies
Web Policy
Academic Accreditation
New York University
New York University
New York University
Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination at NYU - New York University is committed to maintaining an environment that encourages and fosters respect for individual values and appropriate conduct among all persons. In all University spaces—physical and digital—programming, activities, and events are carried out in accordance with applicable law as well as University policy, which includes but is not limited to its Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy.