I think that is great that they are offering a educational program focused on artists and crafters. I think it wonderful that Etsy is sharing this with it's sellers. I am taking the survey and I would be interested in the course.

I went to art college but they didn't really teach us anything about business or even how to get a job after graduation.

This is a very good initiative that will help artists in the near future. Thanks for posting this.

This is interesting news indeed. I had to pick up my business courses separately from my art program during college & university.

This is great! I wish my art school had a program like this back when I was in college. It's sort of ridiculous how they can teach you all of the skills to be a great artist but none of the skills to make a living off of it. Off to take the survey!

Great find and article! Thanks for sharing...

Man! This is amazing! I obviously graduated too early from MICA. Perhaps I should go back for the grad program?!

WOW that sounds like a good program. I don't like taking surveys. But, I'll take this one.

This sounds like it could be a great focused program. I think it would be so useful. Thank you!

I just took the survey. I think that this educational niche is very valuable. I only studied art in college and learned business skills when I had already created chaos and breakdowns in my finances! It's a harder form of education than just taking the courses when you are young and starting out.

When I did my degree in textiles we had the option of taking a supplementary course in business studies for creative's. It was quite useful, but I still found that not much sunk in. There is so much I am unsure about.

Creative innovative program. I am sure many 'starving artists' are hoping for a good scholarship!

Ä°nteresting news

How I wish there would have something like this when I was at school! We were required to take accounting and that was it. Taking the survey...

I took the survey - not that the course would necessarily be useful to non-US business owners due to the differing tax legislation etc. The survey didn't have a general comments section, so I thought I'd comment here... I think one of the biggest issues for artists/designers just starting out is product development. I think a lot of artists follow their passions & interests (naturally) when first making their product, without considering costs, labour, market research & sustainability. Many people don't discover, until they're actually up & running, that their profit margins are unsustainable, or else they price themselves out of their market, are unsure of their target audience & how to reach it, or that the labour needed to make their products is too intensive to be sustainable. Costing, pricing & developing the right product is something that many independent artists & designers could benefit from learning about at an earlier stage in the development of their business.

This new Master's program sounds really great, combining key skills for artists to succeed. Thanks!

I wish there had been a program like this when I was in art school. Thanks for the opportunity to provide input. Looking forward to whatever you offer to Etsy sellers.

Just took the survey and hopefully gave some thoughtful answers. It's encouraging to see that this educator is thinking 'outside the box', but in a business sense, hoping to give their graduates an advantage over so many creative people that struggle with the paperwork side of their careers. I hope they include a mentorship after the program so that those questions not answered in class can be addressed as they come up in real life. Bravo!

Wow. This sounds like it would be a great opportunity for sellers of all stages. The survey was very insightful of what is to come. I will definitely be interested to see what MICA will offer through Etsy for us!

I'll be taking the survey. Thank you for considering the business aspect for Etsy sellers.

Glad you brought this subject to light. I think it's a crime to degree art majors with no business of art required. Most get out of school without a clue. They have these great studios in school. They graduate, have no studio or tools, or a business plan. I went to Northwestern, and there was nothing, nada at the time.

Marking. Sounds like a needed alternative to a traditional MBA. Kent State University in Ohio already has an artist/business and job seeking course in their undergrad fine arts curriculum. Not sure if it's a mandatory class. I've heard mixed reviews from those who have taken it.

I'll definitely be taking the survey. I wish there had been a program like this, or even classes like this in art school. It's important for us to learn craft and style, but we often have a hard time figuring out what to do with our work after graduation....

I think this would be even more helpful if instituted for the undergraduate art majors. I received my BFA from Boston University and would have greatly appreciated a course like this. I wouldn't go for a Master's to learn this because the extra cost and time would be unmanageable. Better to have the option than not, though!

How exciting! I've been thinking about going back to school :-) Will you offer online degrees?

Great idea for an initiative!!!

Thank you for all of your thoughtful responses up to this point. I look forward to hearing more of your questions and comments and to see your responses to our survey. By the way we do hope to offer most of the curriculum online, but need to know more about how you think that should be structured. David

I filled it out, took longer then I thought, hope to get some feedback on this:>)

I will take the survey in a momnent. Pricing is a huge issue. I see dozens of people a day on Alchemy, asking (fellow?) crafters to make things at insultingly low amounts. OK they can ask what they want, but then there are people who bid! It is bad enough when people have to work at less than minimum wage for other people, but when you are offering your own originality, creativity AND skill for less, it boggles my imagination.

I'm lovin this idea! Great news!!

Haven't done the survey yet...but having earned my Masters of Fine Art in 2001, we barely touched the surface of selling on-line. Selling thru Galleries and building a portfolio, as well as a long list of juried shows that we were accepted to, was the goal (in addition to creating relevant art and then teaching) Very interested in this article...

So interesting!

when i was in art school, our instructors made it seem sacrilegious to talk about business and making money... so glad u are creating this program for your students!!! thanks for including us baltimore folks in your related items! MICA rocks!

Interesting news!

Took the survey! -any action that helps encourage art in our society is a positive one!

jamieribisi said: I think this would be even more helpful if instituted for the undergraduate art majors. ------ I agree. I wouldn't go back for a masters to get this information. Took the survey. Will be checking on the progress. Interesting.

Especially in this day and age, the ability to market and sell your work is so important. Sometimes surpassing the actual skill.

I'm in design school now. When I made a comment lamenting that there should be more (or at least one) business focused classes, I was told it wasn't the design school's job to teach me how to actually make money being a designer, just how to design. In engineering school, they certainly taught me how to be successful as an engineer not just calculus and physics. I would definitely be interested in the course if it available online.

Sounds like a worthwhile endeavor - I did the survey!

took the survey!

I've been waiting for a program like this!! It's about flippin time ;P Just took the survey; thanks so much for this article!

I took a "business for the professional artist" class recently, thinking it would teach me everything I need to know... HA! We were just able to scratch the surface, and I realized there's a lot that goes into running a business.

I think even basic business courses would help many Etsy sellers. Heaven forbid there's a business where you need to be both creatively and financially sound in your method. I found I don't run into many online business issues because I had a business degree rather than the communications degree I was initially going to pursue

Awesome idea! I know a few etsians (me included) who could benefit from learning more about the business aspect of an art business.

Wooo Hooo I'm so excited! I can't wait to see what they have to offer!

Having the skills as an artist/designer is one thing. Being able to find a viable market for the product is a completely different set of skills. A course that provides those skills for creative people would be great.

This is very exciting news and I completed the survey. I would hope that continuing ed. / adult ed. courses might also be a possibility in the future too. Best of luck!

I think that all art majors should also be business majors because in art school you get lost in the passion and the finding but forget that making money from your art is probably most important. I never thought to make sellable art in school. although that is another argument all together. great article!

Wow, what an awesome collaboration. I'm so proud to have this happening in our own back yard. I'm a MICA grad myself from the 1994 Visual Communications department. We had a little bit of business that individual professors laced into their programs but there was never really a focus on it. I think this will be a great opportunity and I hope that even the undergrad program will be able to take advantage of it. Thanks for including me in the collection, I'm off to fill out my survey.

I think that my undergrad art education had no practical application when it comes to marketing and whatnot.....

Very inspiring! I didn't go to college, other than a few courses. Had there been something like this, it would have been much more motivating. It's never too late, though, is it? :-)

Wow! This is very exciting. I took the survey and I am just thrilled to hear about this program. It is EXACTLY what I have been looking for.

Inspirational! I'd love to take this program.

Me too, always thought that university are programs were missing the point making the students study statistics when they should have been doing biz math or accounting. Most artists I know have no clue how to price stuff.

Thank you, I don't have time to take the survey now but I will tomorrow. Very Important for creative people to learn these skills and learn them in a timely manner. Also important that it be taught in a language that creative people can understand.

I've been worrying for over 5 years what to get my masters in. Thank you!! I think you have solved my problem. Is it 2011 yet??????

This is extremely exciting. I have a business management bachelor degree. And I would LOVE more details, direction, guidance, information! I am so thrilled Etsy is participating in this. And love that we can give input with the survey. I did the survey. It only takes 10 minutes and is very easy! Please help by taking 10 minutes to do it :)

Took the survey! I love any action that encourages art in our society!

That's great, but for someone who doesn't even have a bachelor's degree, maybe we should start smaller? I think it's a bit pretentious to think that everyone was able to get some form of higher education.

Lingua it is ok. They offer bachelor's degrees already. This is an extension to what is already offered :) The survey actually asks about this, whether a person should have to have a business background/degree for this program. That is what is so great to participate is you can give that type of input to help :)

This sounds very interesting, I took more than a couple of classes through MICA's continuing education program and might have to go back! Going to take the survey now...

Survey completed and thanks. Please consider tho that this is an international site so if/when putting this course together that you take into account days/times for all participants.

WONDERFUL! How fun and exciting!

Looking forward to seeing what courses will be available for Etsians! I think this program sounds very interesting!

Wow,the Etsy community is great. Your responses to the post have been very informative! Please keep adding to the dialogue, your input is immensely helpful. I can't wait to share the results of the survey, too. David

As a fine artist who worked in television for decades, and most recently at QVC for four years, this sounds like a great program. What I learned about retail from QVC was invaluable; marketing, customer service is king and simple messaging with a story. However, design in the medium of TV has always been about legible communication and this can carry over into both interactive design, and our own messaging as online artisan retailers. If you can offer speakers from real life marketing, design and retail environments as a part of the program, that may help. Interested in hearing more about your plans!

This is news I love to hear! I work at Columbia College Chicago, which offers a Master's of Arts Management degree (Arts, Entertainment & Media Management: http://www.colum.edu/Academics/Graduate_Study/Graduate_Programs/Arts_Ent_and_Media_Mgmt/index.php ) I think it's equivalent to an MBA, but tailored specifically for arts industries. It's what drew me to working at Columbia, and I hope to enter the program next year! It's exciting to hear about another program with similar goals -- giving artists and creatives the business skills they need to be successful at what they love.

Great idea for a course of study! I agree with MagicJelly's comments above - pricing, product development, etc. should definitely be included.

marketing also. Yup. Great blog. Thanks etsy-tastic!

Fabulous idea. Seldom are artists also marketers. My art major did not prepare me for the business side.

I have art qualifications, and I have a background in sales, but to be able to merge the two is something I'm just hoping that I'm doing right at the moment! So to be able to do something like this is a brilliant idea! I'll have to check out the survey. Look forward to hearing more about this Etsy!

WOW, wish that Master's program had been around before, or was available across the country...I got a Master's in Business, but this would have been PERFECT for me!

Just took the survey!

We too struggle with the marketing and sales side of our business and would love to be matched up with professionals who are passionate about the business side of the art world. Agents, PR professionals, and salespeople who can speak the language of art and design are hard to locate.

great idea!

Just completed the survey. It looks like MICA is really thinking this through. Hope we can help.

This is amazing.

Awesome! You can get a lot of ground covered with online education. I've taken the survey as well, and I think it'll be really important that students can individualize the courses they take (will there be a cap as to how many?) so they can get the most out of the program without duplicating skills they might have already gathered elsewhere. I'm excited to see how this plays out!

Sounds great! I just finished the survey as well, and I don't think it even took a full 10 minutes. Thanks for the obvious thought and careful planning that is going in to this idea. I look forward to what comes out of it!

great article! and great survey. can't wait to see how this comes full circle to the etsy community.

i just finished the survey. but it took more than 10 minutes.

i am also worried if i could afford it. no one mentions the cost of the program...

I am quite interested to see where this leads. I would take an online course to help me manage my work better. Thanks!

Boy oh boy, that sure makes you realize all that you don't know and could learn. thanks for sharing.

Great Article - thanks for sharing!

Very interesting. I'm not sure a degree program is necessary to develop a business plan, though. The trouble with most places which can help you develop a plan is that they know nothing about artists and the art world.

just to keep inspiration fueling your creativity, keeping your heart light, not to be too critical of your own accomplishements, Nevertheless always working dilligently Yet to step back, then reconsider what you have accomplished, know then that you have impacted others lives with beauty seen through your eyes, then transformed once again into portraits upon your canvas, life is a canvas of your own making,~ hmn Survey

Wow! a class teaching how to run your business! sounds like my kind of school!

I started a thread to promote this! http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?page=4&thread_id=6512193 I think this is so exciting, and absolutely amazing. I love that we can give input. It only takes about 10 minutes, and is really easy. Thanks Etsy and MICA!

This is great. I wish more art schools were looking into things like this (and music schools or any other specialized schools like that). Even the business courses I took in college (I went to a really technically-oriented university) didn't help me as much as the mountains of reading and trial and error I've been doing on my own the past few years. If I were to return to school, which I hope to at least once in my future, I'd definitely have my eye out for courses like this in order to get the most well-rounded preparation for real success in any field, art or otherwise.

What a great initiative. I've been working as an academic in the çreative industries space for about 5 years now. www.cci.edu.au) I've always been frustrated by how the cultural studies debates have appropriated creativity and undermined skill and technical knowledge. This course seems to be an excellent way of re-appropriating the space! YOu might be interested in this conference www.diycitizenship.com and also this one on creative entrepeneurs http://www.creativeconferencewest.com/ both of which suggest that the time is right for this program. Good luck with it! You can read an article where I discuss the value of etsy in supporting design at http://casacocoloco.ning.com/forum/topics/crowdsourcing-and-design-can Cheers Angelina bTW - the survey was closed so I'll check back later!

Again, let me thank all you for your comments and recommendations. Last week we had almost 600 people complete our survey (Etsy folks and others with an interest in this topic). We will share the results soon! David

Time and time again I see talented artists graduate even with honors, completely unprepared for the business end of things. Our education must be balanced to succeed. Best to learn these skills while in college, rather than trying to learn it all after the fact. We all must learn business administration and marketing sooner or later for success.

This is a fantastic idea and hopefully other colleges will develop similar programs. I own a BA in Asian Studies and MA in Public Administration (and unfortunately I can't get a job since I don't have experience in the public sector). But since wanting to develop my craft further and possibly into a full time income, I have decided to go back to school in the fall to either do an Associates in Accounting, or do the courses necessary to become a CPA. If I become a CPA, I will focus on other artists and crafters needs for financial advice and support.

Excellent. I will be the first in line to attend! Love this idea and article.

I took a "Business for Artists" class in school @SMFA. However, it became clear that I needed an entire degree or program on the technicalities of understanding the business of art. This sounds like an amazing initiative!

Wonderful idea!

This is great! I wish there were more programs like this offered all over the U.S. I am currently in the process of selecting a Masters program.

This is a great idea... I would love to enroll in a program like that. ♥

That s great ! nice idea!

great article : )

right on! p.s. i like the little cloud mood rings ;)

My husband and I are about to mentor a art school grad who was taught nothing about the business side. Not naming school names...but at least some places are teaching it. bravo!

I remember back in Art school asking one of my professors to teach us about how to apply for Artist Grants, and how to approach galleries and he told me that wasn't important...meanwhile of course he gets grants.

Recently I offered to come and talk to students at the jewelry school where I studied, about how to start a business. I am one of a handful that makes a living producing jewellery, a few others have careers in jewellery repair. So many students are overwhelmed and have no idea where to start or what to do, they just give up. Still a lot to learn, it would be great to take classes to improve my own business skills.

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This is definitely something I would be interested in. A lot has changed since I went college and we no longer promote and sell our work the way it was taught in my Art program.

I would definitely be interested in a course of study dedicated to design & art businesses. So many of them in the typical field of education focus on large corporate mindsets, when in reality becoming a nation of small businesses would be more beneficial to our society. Thank you both for brainstorming and coming up with a way to get those of us trying to start our "small" businesses under way.

Literally JUST THIS MORNING I was thinking that there should be an "Art Business" degree. As an alumn of one of the most prestigious art schools in the world, I am not shocked that I was taught nothing about business. It meant nothing to me when I was in school, but now that I've been in "the real world," looking back I realize I NEEDED business classes but they were not offered. This is AMAZING and such a great idea.

Im just starting to look into colleges and i'm absolutley everywhere with what programs I might want to go into, but this is definitely one of them! I was thinking that I might end up trying to get a major/minor in business/entrepreneurship and design. But the idea of going for a mojor or minor in business or entrepeneurship wasn't appealing. I really hope other colleges and universities start similar program. The only problem is im split between science and art&Design... If any one happens to read this and knows a college with excellent programs in both fields im all ears. :)

Great artlcle - thanks so much!

Would have liked taking the survey but it is now close. Will definitely look into program.

This is exactly what missing in some great art schools. More focus needs to be how turn what you do into a business. I also went to a great art school but we barely touched on the skills required to become a successful business. I had to learn that from other people around me, and of course all the help from Etsy and it's community.

Etsy is so informative. I have learned so much more from Etsy than anywhere else.

Thanks for shaing! wonderful artlicle.

Any opportunity to help artists, crafters and designers develop business and entreprenurial skills is terrific!!

It is very interesting that in the college world that these two things would not be met together in the middle. It's either "creative" or "business". Never the 2 together! What a great idea! It definitely is needed. Could be very helpful for those who want to further their craft beyond a hobby.

The Business Of Art is definately a much needed class for all Artists and I'm thrilled to hear it's being offered. I missed the article on it, where can I see it? Visit my blog when you get a chance http://katescana.blogspot.com it speaks to exactly that. The Art college I was at years ago offered the class but only 5 people signed up so they cancelled it,I think students didn't realize they were going to need it. Thanks for bringing it to light!

As Baltimore residents, we love giving MICA kudos! Definitely going to look into this opportunity. Thanks, Etsy for the info!

I'm from Mexico, and I want to get in!!!