Arts Agency to Offer Business Training

Courses in business management may be the next step in revitalizing Long Beach’s arts community.

Responding to a national study that arts groups in general lack cohesive economic strategies, the city’s Public Corp. for the Arts is planning a 13-week program titled “Business of Art and Art of Business.”

Too often, cultural organizations fall behind trends in marketing and fund-raising, said corporation program Director Rose Ratkovich.

All the city’s 85 arts organizations will be able to apply for 35 individual course openings, Ratkovich said. Set to begin Jan. 14, the classes will be conducted by the California American Woman’s Economic Development Corp., which is co-sponsoring the series.