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Arts Management 2: Creative Ventures for Social Impact - 2025

Students undertook a semester-long exploration into how musicians can drive meaningful change in the world. Through rigorous research, design thinking, and collaborative ideation, they developed ventures aimed at addressing systemic challenges rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each student selected a specific global issue that was personal to them—such as mental health, climate action, sustainability, access to music education, or equitable opportunities for artists—and worked to design a creative solution with real-world potential.

Their process included extensive research, work-shopping ideas, and crafting business plans, all culminating in detailed prototypes (presented as storyboards) that showcased their proposed ventures. This challenging yet rewarding experience not only demonstrated their entrepreneurial creativity but also showed how musicians can be a part of the larger conversation in creating change in the world today. The course emphasized that artistic practice and social responsibility can go hand in hand—and that the arts have a vital role to play in shaping a better future. 

This course was led by Tabitha Johnson.

Timothy Carter

Indie-Stry

Core Purpose: Empowering Independent Artists

Timothy Carter is launching Indie-stry, an innovative new venture that aims to transform how independent artists thrive in the music industry. His concept grew from a fundamental yet impactful belief: musicians should receive fair compensation, maintain creative control, and have access to the same growth opportunities as major-label artists. Indie-stry will equip indie musicians with transparent revenue models, AI-driven audience analytics, and direct-to-fan monetization options, empowering them to cultivate sustainable careers on their own terms. Timothy’s vision resonates with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by promoting economic opportunities, fair pay, and inclusivity in an industry that has often marginalized independent voices.

Keira Chen

ReVolt

ReVolt is an innovative smart running track system that converts human kinetic energy into clean electricity. It uses pressure sensors embedded in the track to capture people's footsteps and transform them into usable energy. At the same time, all users are connected to a shared background music track. When their steps synchronize with the rhythm, users are rewarded with points. ReVolt transforms everyday movement into green energy while connecting people through music.

ReVolt supports SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. It promotes the use of renewable energy in public spaces and supports smart infrastructure in urban environments.

ReVolt reimagines how music can be experienced—physically, socially, and sustainably. By merging music with green technology, it offers a new form of public, interactive engagement with sound.

Zander Lu

C for Cacophony

C for Cacophony turns mental healing into a music therapy video game. Incorporated into the development process is intense research into the healing processes of music therapy. This research includes surveys of mental health professionals, as well as musicians, taking the concepts behind music therapy and realizing the healing aspects into an approachable form.

C for Cacophony will revolutionize the music industry by expanding the scope of the power of music. Music affects many aspects of life, and it is important to realize the full extent to which musicians can take advantage of their skills and training.

C for Cacophony addresses the third Sustainable Development Goal: good health and well-being. The venture seeks to encourage awareness of mental health skills and the adoption thereof. Through turning healing into a video game, we allow users to take control of their journey, giving access to resources on their own time, rather than through in person, live and timed therapy sessions. C for Cacophony seeks to break down barriers to mental health treatment. We speak to calm the mind.

Caitlin Piccione

Recovery Zone

Recovery Zone is a program that helps athletes and veterans who suffer from traumatic brain injuries and helps them through music therapy. This revolutionizes the industry because more people might be open to getting help by doing this program. The Sustainable Development Goal (first developed by the United Nations) I based my solution on is #3 - Good Health and Wellbeing.

Joan Visitacion

Beatbox

Beatbox is a personalized subscription box venture that stemmed from an aspiring music student who wishes to break down financial and informational barriers in the music industry.

By taking the expensive guesswork out of the equation and offering accessible tools, education, and networking opportunities via weekly digital drops and monthly boxes, Beatbox takes Sustainable Development Goals No. 4, 8, 9, and 10 to heart—empowering beginners, indies, and professionals alike to grow, create, and thrive on their terms.

Fun Fact:
The logo for Beatbox is a play off of the common beat of “boots n’ cats” in beatboxing!