An introduction to cultural institutions in the United States, while providing student exposure to the professional environment artist find themselves in. In order for artist and arts administrators to succeed after their educational experience it is critical to understand the history of their respective field, and which events and questions have shaped, and are shaping, their industry. This course is very much an interdisciplinary initiative. Over the past century the arts have become ever-more integrated with one another resulting in a requirement of not only understanding one discipline, but how other disciplines affect a particular practice.