Artistic Entrepreneurship

Artistic Entrepreneurship

Over the past three years as a UMass student, I have struggled and lost hair over the vital decisions for my future.  I considered being a different major on campus every other week, if not daily.  Anyone who knows me can reassure that fact, especially those who reside in my little sanctuary nestled over the pillars of Goodell. 

As a freshman I came into the BDIC office for the first time, not to inquire about designing my own major but in hopes to get a job.  Fortunately enough, I landed a great opportunity with an on campus job and didn't even know it was going to become my new major.  As I became familiar with the program and the faculty and staff that make BDIC the special program it is, the more welcomed I felt into the department.

At the time I was this student in limbo trying to figure out the best course of study that would fit all of my interests.  I was a declared Mathematics and Theater double major; two completely different worlds but both very interesting to me.  My initial plan was to become a high school mathematics teacher while pursuing my appreciation of performing arts and design. 

It's funny to see that as I think about the BDIC being an interdisciplinary program, I was always subconsciously doing something in that manner.  

After taking a semester off from school, it finally grew on me enough to decide that BDIC was right for me.  I made my second entrance into the BDIC program this past spring with an Artistic Entrepreneurship concentration.  My major is intricately crafted to work along side pursuing a Theater double major.  Initially I also proposed to do a Studio Art minor but that didn't work out due to scheduling conflicts.  My concentration is combining the areas of social and behavioral sciences like Psychology and Communication, along with some business courses like Marketing and Entrepreneurship, along side different courses that focus on different artistic mediums like Film, Writing, Studio Art, and Theater.  To truly have an interdisciplinary approach, I want to continue to explore what is entrepreneurship.   Is it a business model?  Is it a way of thinking?  Can it be a process of execution?  Moreover, what makes an entrepreneur?  Whatever it is, you still have to develop your own credibility for your identity.  You do that as well as being a BDIC student.  I want to apply all of that to the artistic industries and the creative economy tying it all of my components.  I must say that I am now enjoying BDIC in more than one dimension.

Being a BDIC employee is like working for an Angels Investor company, where getting the sighs of relief and smiles of joy from our students is a daily aspect of what we do.  Being a BDIC student is like being the celebrity walking down the street chased by paparazzi.  That's how great a deal it is...well, at least for me!