In 1987, Carnegie Mellon University, respected internationally for its entrepreneurial drive and achievements in the scientific, creative and management sectors, established an academic program in arts management that was like no other; it leveraged the relative strengths of the Heinz School of Public Policy and Management and the College of Fine Arts to create a graduate-level curriculum that quickly became one of the top - if not the leading - arts management program in the country.

The Best of Two Worlds: Carnegie Mellon and Los Angeles

What distinguishes this new degree program is its unique blend of Carnegie Mellon's renowned rigorous, high quality academic training with on-site, in the trenches, hands-on training within the film and television industry in Los Angeles. Students will spend the first year of study in Pittsburgh, taking core management coursework that will provide them with the bedrock of skills and ways of thinking that they'll need to succeed. During the second year, the students will be in Los Angeles, expanding and enriching their management skills, theories and techniques through specialized coursework taught by some of the entertainment industry's leading professionals. In addition, MEIM students will work side-by-side with industry professionals throughout the year as full-time apprentices in a studio or production company.

The Commitment to the Creative Process - to the Art of Storytelling

Further distinguishing the MEIM Program is Carnegie Mellon's understanding of, respect for and commitment to the very force at the core of this industry: the desire to tell a story and to tell it well. Leaders in creative enterprises have distinctly different missions from their counterparts in other industries; ultimately, their role is to facilitate -- effectively and efficiently -- the work of artists and artisans whose inspiration and efforts captivate the audience.

All Within the Larger Context of the Creative Sector

Yet there's more. Carnegie Mellon recognizes that the film and television industry is but one part of a larger creative sector that encompasses all disciplines and sectors. Traditionally, for-profit entertainment and non-profit arts and culture have been considered two distinct worlds, but "leadership," "vision" and "good management" are the same in both. The lines between for-profit and non-profit have blurred significantly in the recent past, and collaboration has become increasingly common. Leaders now much understand and know how to maneuver through the challenges and opportunities in both. Artists, audiences and funders move back and forth regularly between the two sectors, and all of us must understand the larger creative enterprise sector and appreciate our position on that landscape.

What's in a Name?

The Master of Entertainment Industry Management degree is accredited by the State of California and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The Institute for Management of Creative Enterprises is a member of

the Association of Arts Administration Educators