Thesis Archive: MA in Arts Administration and Policy

The depth and breadth of MAAAP thesis research topics reflects the diverse interests of students in the program and the complexity of the arts and culture sector in the 21st Century. The online archive below includes a sample of recent student thesis work organized around the program's core values and key frameworks of inquiry.

 

Creative/Visionary Leadership



Makerspace: Advance Society and Make a Profit - How to prompt commercialization and entrepreneurship in innovative makerspace Zhao, Mengxuan (Moe) (2021 Spring)
Contemporary Arts Ecosystems: Self Organization and Improvisation in Black Chicago Sykes, Adia Marie (2018 Summer)
A Love Letter to Community - A Manifesto in Five Suggestions Pate, Israel (2018 Spring)
After/Lifecycles Skaggs, Sarah Kathryn (2018 Spring)
Three Opera Companies: The Impact of Systemic Thinking & Funding Shiel, Gail (2016 Fall)
Racing Culture: Exploring Race, Inclusion and Equity in Arts Institutions Blocker, Ryan; Iglesias, Raquel (2016 Spring)
Diversity, Access, and Participation in Contemporary Arts Philanthropy Junell, Olivia (2016 Spring)
"Not Unique, Powerful, Competitive": Advocacy and Obstacles in Feminist Arts Administration Breitenbach, Kristen (2015 Summer)
Mergers and Alliances as Adaptive Strategies in the Nonprofit Arts and Cultural Sector Burrage, Gabrielle (2015 Summer)
Adaptive Capacity: Necessary Components & Strategies for Contemporary Non-Profit Arts and Cultural Organizations Reynolds, Samantha (2015 Spring)

Collaboration: Theory and Models



Doing it Together: Building Relationships Between Arts Organizations and Communities Miller, Tessa (2022 Spring)
The Chicago Park District: An Innovative Model For Collaboration And Social Cohesion Anton, Vicki Evangelia (2020 Fall)
Lens Lessons: Designing a Film Screening and Discussion Program for Teenage Girls, Featuring the Work of Female Filmmakers Kelly, Rebecca (2020 Spring)
A Love Letter to Community - A Manifesto in Five Suggestions Pate, Israel (2018 Spring)
Designing with the Visitor: Collaboratively Planned Digital Projects as Roadmaps for Institutional Change in Art Museums Budzioch, Paulina K.; Deutsch, Caitlin S. (2017 Spring)
Working At The Line: Three Studies of Arts Administration at The U.S.-Mexico Border Fuqua, Benjamin McElroy (2017 Spring)
Racing Culture: Exploring Race, Inclusion and Equity in Arts Institutions Blocker, Ryan; Iglesias, Raquel (2016 Spring)
Youth Curatorial Programs: Meaning-Making in a Participatory Climate Kee, Lee Ling (Jacelyn) (2016 Spring)
(Unknowingly Not) Islands: Independent Artists, Record Labels, & the Colonized Mind Mehlan, Matthew (2016 Spring)
"Not Unique, Powerful, Competitive": Advocacy and Obstacles in Feminist Arts Administration Breitenbach, Kristen (2015 Summer)
Mergers and Alliances as Adaptive Strategies in the Nonprofit Arts and Cultural Sector Burrage, Gabrielle (2015 Summer)
Creative Responsibility: The Place of Civically-engaged Artists in Mexico City Jacques-Casanova, Alexia (2015 Spring)
The New Collectivism: Socially Engaged Art Practice in Contemporary China Xue, Bingyan (Laura) (2015 Spring)
Defining Quality: Strategic Assessment Methods for Arts Partnerships in Education Groot, Jennifer C. (2014 Fall)
Rethinking Radio: Storytelling as Civic Activism Lentz, Stephanie; Mallard, Tocarra (2014 Spring)
Casa Familiar: Mi Pueblo Through the Lens of Socially Engaged Art Trejo, Laura P. (2013 Spring)

Systems Thinking



Community Engaged Art Practices at the Intersection of the 'Art Way' and 'Design Way' Singh, Priyanka (2020 Fall)
Analysis on Digital Distribution and Social Impact Campaign of Independent Films Lin, Yiqian (2019 Spring)
Contemporary Arts Ecosystems: Self Organization and Improvisation in Black Chicago Sykes, Adia Marie (2018 Summer)
After/Lifecycles Skaggs, Sarah Kathryn (2018 Spring)
Designing with the Visitor: Collaboratively Planned Digital Projects as Roadmaps for Institutional Change in Art Museums Budzioch, Paulina K.; Deutsch, Caitlin S. (2017 Spring)
The Art Fair Effect: Measuring the Impact of Art Expositions Tosi, Fabiola (2017 Spring)
Racing Culture: Exploring Race, Inclusion and Equity in Arts Institutions Blocker, Ryan; Iglesias, Raquel (2016 Spring)
(Unknowingly Not) Islands: Independent Artists, Record Labels, & the Colonized Mind Mehlan, Matthew (2016 Spring)
Ideation: Channeling Arts Thinking Through Embodied Hybrid Practices Owen, Emily (2016 Spring)
Mergers and Alliances as Adaptive Strategies in the Nonprofit Arts and Cultural Sector Burrage, Gabrielle (2015 Summer)
Creative Responsibility: The Place of Civically-engaged Artists in Mexico City Jacques-Casanova, Alexia (2015 Spring)
Adaptive Capacity: Necessary Components & Strategies for Contemporary Non-Profit Arts and Cultural Organizations Reynolds, Samantha (2015 Spring)
Balancing Dichotomies: Visioning an art administration paradigm for India John, Preema (2014 Spring)
Hryvnias, Pysanky, and Glue for the Cracks: Independent Ukraine's search for identity and stability through civil society Clark, Natalie (2013 Fall)
Casa Familiar: Mi Pueblo Through the Lens of Socially Engaged Art Trejo, Laura P. (2013 Spring)

Cultural Equity: Intersectionality, Diversity and Inclusion



Artistic Practice and Mission-Driven Organizing: A Study of Artist-Administered Projects within the Criminal Justice System Sheehan, Grace (2020 Fall)
The Experiment of Going to College for Art: Conversations with People of Color de Los Angeles Orozco, Veronica (Vero d. Orozco) (2019 Spring)
"What's the End Goal?": Therapeutic Art: More than Just Art-making - the Systemic Healing of Individuals and Communities Holmes, Leigh (2019 Spring)
Institutional Transparency, Databases, and Policies: The Naamwaa Registry and Ethical Acquisitioning of Archaeological Material and Ancient Art Mescher, Elizabeth Maura (2018 Spring)
Cultivating Change: The System of Access in Chicago's Art Spaces Graham, Courtney E. (2018 Spring)
Blackbox: An Afrofuturist Opus Cintron, Courtney (2017 Spring)
Working At The Line: Three Studies of Arts Administration at The U.S.-Mexico Border Fuqua, Benjamin McElroy (2017 Spring)
Art Museum Interpretation: Using Interpretive Tools, Strategies, and Resources to Democratize the Art Museum Experience Brinich, Ellen (2016 Summer)
Racing Culture: Exploring Race, Inclusion and Equity in Arts Institutions Blocker, Ryan; Iglesias, Raquel (2016 Spring)
Diversity, Access, and Participation in Contemporary Arts Philanthropy Junell, Olivia (2016 Spring)
A Parallel World: Hip Hop Dance in China Tao, Xinqi (2016 Spring)
"Not Unique, Powerful, Competitive": Advocacy and Obstacles in Feminist Arts Administration Breitenbach, Kristen (2015 Summer)
Traveling Coordinates: A Case on Developing and Implementing a Dialogical Curatorial Practice in Santander and Norte De Santander, Colombia Acosta-Carrizosa, Catalina (2015 Spring)
"The World is Burning, Let's Masturbate!": Transgressive Histories and Queer Legacies Price, George William (2015 Spring)
Cardinal Loop Conference Proposal: A Commitment to Contemporary Cultural Conversation in Chicago Tchochiev, Alda Akhsar (2015 Fall)
Rethinking Radio: Storytelling as Civic Activism Lentz, Stephanie; Mallard, Tocarra (2014 Spring)
Defining Quality: Strategic Assessment Methods for Arts Partnerships in Education Groot, Jennifer C. (2014 Fall)
The Division Street Project Swinney, Brett (2014 Fall)
Casa Familiar: Mi Pueblo Through the Lens of Socially Engaged Art Trejo, Laura P. (2013 Spring)

Public Sphere, Publics



Towards an Integration of Embodied Learning in Curriculum in Mexico: Dance Education in Schools Ysasi Tavano, Giannella (2019 Spring)
Developing Modern Educational Paradigms: Capacity Building In Partnership With Contemporary Artists, Teachers, And Organizations Converging In The Public Sphere Beck, Allie Amanda (2019 Spring)
Working At The Line: Three Studies of Arts Administration at The U.S.-Mexico Border Fuqua, Benjamin McElroy (2017 Spring)
Leading America Through Local Modernism: Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes' (Mexico) Exhibitions and Publications on Architecture, 1950-1952 Goldman, Zoe Alexandra (2017 Spring)
Social Practices and Art Institutions: An Inquiry into Institutional Use of Social Practice Huang, Minghui (2017 Spring)
Exploring the Effects of Trail Revitalization Projects in Western Chicago Neighborhoods Monasterio, Emily (2017 Spring)
The Art Fair Effect: Measuring the Impact of Art Expositions Tosi, Fabiola (2017 Spring)
Art Museum Interpretation: Using Interpretive Tools, Strategies, and Resources to Democratize the Art Museum Experience Brinich, Ellen (2016 Summer)
Racing Culture: Exploring Race, Inclusion and Equity in Arts Institutions Blocker, Ryan; Iglesias, Raquel (2016 Spring)
State of Art Archiving in Iran, Now & Then Maleki, Kimia (2016 Spring)
A Parallel World: Hip Hop Dance in China Tao, Xinqi (2016 Spring)
Cardinal Loop Conference Proposal: A Commitment to Contemporary Cultural Conversation in Chicago Tchochiev, Alda Akhsar (2015 Fall)
Liminal Spaces: Developing Platforms of Discourse for Artists, Scientists, and the Public Schmider, Beatrice (2015 Summer)
Traveling Coordinates: A Case on Developing and Implementing a Dialogical Curatorial Practice in Santander and Norte De Santander, Colombia Acosta-Carrizosa, Catalina (2015 Spring)
"The World is Burning, Let's Masturbate!": Transgressive Histories and Queer Legacies Price, George William (2015 Spring)
The New Collectivism: Socially Engaged Art Practice in Contemporary China Xue, Bingyan (Laura) (2015 Spring)
The Division Street Project Swinney, Brett (2014 Fall)
The Current Value of Visitor Research in Museums: An Analysis of the Historical Development of Visitor Research and Its Present Use Smith, Madeline (2014 Summer)
Correctional Art and Architecture Kaplan, Rachel (2014 Spring)
Rethinking Radio: Storytelling as Civic Activism Lentz, Stephanie; Mallard, Tocarra (2014 Spring)
Transferability of East Asian Arts Festivals in Rural Areas: Community Revitalization Through Creative Placemaking in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan Ma, Jue (2014 Spring)
Radical Exhibiting and the Representation of Solidarity at the 1974 Venice Biennale Munsell, Raven Falquez (2014 Spring)
Hryvnias, Pysanky, and Glue for the Cracks: Independent Ukraine's search for identity and stability through civil society Clark, Natalie (2013 Fall)
Casa Familiar: Mi Pueblo Through the Lens of Socially Engaged Art Trejo, Laura P. (2013 Spring)

Art Economies, Art Market



Art is a Public Good: Changing the Dynamics of Art Collection and Donation in the United States Through Tax Policy Botts, Alexander (2022 Spring)
Combing Qualitative and Quantitative Factors in Assessing the Investment Potential of Fine Art Potter, Madison Claire (2018 Spring)
The Art Fair Effect: Measuring the Impact of Art Expositions Tosi, Fabiola (2017 Spring)
(Unknowingly Not) Islands: Independent Artists, Record Labels, & the Colonized Mind Mehlan, Matthew (2016 Spring)
A Parallel World: Hip Hop Dance in China Tao, Xinqi (2016 Spring)
Three Opera Companies: The Impact of Systemic Thinking & Funding Shiel, Gail H. (2016 Fall)
"Not Unique, Powerful, Competitive": Advocacy and Obstacles in Feminist Arts Administration Breitenbach, Kristen (2015 Summer)
Mergers and Alliances as Adaptive Strategies in the Nonprofit Arts and Cultural Sector Burrage, Gabrielle (2015 Summer)
Creative Responsibility: The Place of Civically-engaged Artists in Mexico City Jacques-Casanova, Alexia (2015 Spring)
Responding to Global Art Worlds: Chinese Cultural Diplomacy in Contemporary Art in the 2000s Li, Yiqing (2015 Spring)
Responding to The Market: An Analysis of Value-Generating Mechanisms in The Emerging Contemporary Chinese Art Market Xie, Liwei (Jane) (2015 Spring)
Transferability of East Asian Arts Festivals in Rural Areas: Community Revitalization Through Creative Placemaking in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan Ma, Jue (2014 Spring)
A Study of the Contemporary Art Market's Global Expansion in Hong Kong O'Donoghue, Bonnie (2014 Spring)

Cultural Policy, Culture & Policy



The Body at Work: Foreign Policy and Somatic Intervention Lefthand, Joseph (2019 Spring)
After Displacement and Demolition: Cultural Planning for Artist Communities in Beijing Pang, Yidan (2018 Spring)
Institutional Transparency, Databases, and Policies: The Naamwaa Registry and Ethical Acquisitioning of Archaeological Material and Ancient Art Mescher, Elizabeth Maura (2018 Spring)
Cultivating Change: The System of Access in Chicago's Art Spaces Graham, Courtney E. (2018 Spring)
New Russian Museums: Politics and Ideology of Cultural Reconstruction Fedotova, Polina (2018 Spring)
Community Land Trusts and Cultural Policy: Assessing "Culture in Place" to Support Community Agency Osbourne, Kathryn Elizabeth (2018 Spring)
Exploring the Effects of Trail Revitalization Projects in Western Chicago Neighborhoods Monasterio, Emily (2017 Spring)
Racing Culture: Exploring Race, Inclusion and Equity in Arts Institutions Blocker, Ryan; Iglesias, Raquel (2016 Spring)
Diversity, Access, and Participation in Contemporary Arts Philanthropy Junell, Olivia (2016 Spring)
"Not Unique, Powerful, Competitive": Advocacy and Obstacles in Feminist Arts Administration Breitenbach, Kristen (2015 Summer)
Responding to Global Art Worlds: Chinese Cultural Diplomacy in Contemporary Art in the 2000s Li, Yiqing (2015 Spring)
The Division Street Project Swinney, Brett (2014 Fall)
Balancing Dichotomies: Visioning an art administration paradigm for India John, Preema (2014 Spring)
Correctional Art and Architecture Kaplan, Rachel (2014 Spring)
Rethinking Radio: Storytelling as Civic Activism Lentz, Stephanie; Mallard, Tocarra (2014 Spring)
Transferability of East Asian Arts Festivals in Rural Areas: Community Revitalization Through Creative Placemaking in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan Ma, Jue (2014 Spring)
Radical Exhibiting and the Representation of Solidarity at the 1974 Venice Biennale Munsell, Raven Falquez (2014 Spring)
A Study of the Contemporary Art Market's Global Expansion in Hong Kong O'Donoghue, Bonnie (2014 Spring)
Hryvnias, Pysanky, and Glue for the Cracks: Independent Ukraine's search for identity and stability through civil society Clark, Natalie (2013 Fall)
Casa Familiar: Mi Pueblo Through the Lens of Socially Engaged Art Trejo, Laura P. (2013 Spring)

Urbanism



Nasza Polonia W Chicago: Polish Culture And Community In The Chicago Suburbs: An Inquiry Rooted In Asset Mapping Pieniadz, Izabela (2020 Spring)
What We Talk About When We Talk About Civic Engagement : Five Cases Studies on Civic Engagement from Higher Education Art Schools Rodriguez Melo, Nicolas (2018 Fall)
Cultivating Change: The System of Access in Chicago's Art Spaces Graham, Courtney E. (2018 Spring)
After Displacement and Demolition: Cultural Planning for Artist Communities in Beijing Pang, Yidan (2018 Spring)
Community Land Trusts and Cultural Policy: Assessing "Culture in Place" to Support Community Agency Osbourne, Kathryn (2018 Spring)
Exploring the Effects of Trail Revitalization Projects in Western Chicago Neighborhoods Monasterio, Emily (2017 Spring)
The Division Street Project Swinney, Brett (2014 Fall)
Transferability of East Asian Arts Festivals in Rural Areas: Community Revitalization Through Creative Placemaking in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan Ma, Jue (2014 Spring)
Casa Familiar: Mi Pueblo Through the Lens of Socially Engaged Art Trejo, Laura P. (2013 Spring)