Department of Arts and Creative Leadership

Mission Statement - Department of Arts & Creative Leadership

The Department of Arts & Creative Leadership advances a vision of leadership through the arts by uniting creative practice, critical inquiry, and community engagement. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates artistic expression, cultural understanding, and entrepreneurial practices, we prepare students to thrive as innovative leaders, collaborative creators, and civic-minded professionals. Our programs foster both artistic excellence and applied leadership, empowering graduates to shape meaningful futures in the arts, education, and beyond.

The Visual & Performing Arts (B.F.A.) program at Savannah State University prepares students to become creative professionals and cultural leaders through intensive study in Music Education, Performing Arts, and Visual Art.

Our interdisciplinary curriculum blends applied creative practice with real-world experience, guiding students to develop their artistic voice while gaining the professional skills needed to thrive in today’s creative economy. Whether you’re training as a teacher, performer, or visual artist, you’ll learn to create, lead, and engage through the arts.

Concentrations

Music Education
Prepares students for teacher certification and careers in K-12 music instruction, ensemble direction, and community-based music education. Coursework combines performance, theory, pedagogy, and classroom leadership.

Performing Arts
Emphasizes theatre and dance, with opportunities in acting, movement, choreography, stagecraft, directing, and production. Students collaborate on original works, public performances, and cross-disciplinary projects.

Visual Art
Offers studio training in two- and three-dimensional media including drawing, painting, design, and sculpture. Students build a professional portfolio through critique, exhibition, and individualized mentorship.

Arts Leadership and Workforce Alignment

The VaPA program is uniquely positioned to support Georgia’s growing demand for creative, culturally competent professionals. With statewide initiatives emphasizing education-to-career pipelines and the expanding impact of the creative economy, our graduates are prepared to lead in both artistic and community-centered roles.

Students gain transferable skills in:

· Creative problem solving and critical thinking

· Communication, collaboration, and public presentation

· Project and time management

· Arts entrepreneurship and leadership

· Portfolio and career development

Through performances, exhibitions, internships, and outreach projects, students graduate with both disciplinary expertise and cross-sector readiness-equipped to work as educators, performers, designers, producers, arts administrators, and advocates for the arts in Georgia and beyond.