Program Overview

Overview

This programme will equip you for working in the arts and cultural industries, with a specific focus on management in the arts. You'll develop a powerful combination of theoretical insights and professional skills to help prepare you for success in these sectors.

Why Study BA Arts Management at Goldsmiths

• Culture and the arts are vital to the global creative economy.
• You'll learn how to understand arts and creative organisations – from small community endeavours through to world-renowned organisations.
• You'll develop the skills to manage and run organisations such as museums, galleries, theatres, dance and live music venues, and cultural centres, and events such as festivals.
• The degree includes guaranteed work experience in your second year consisting of 30 hours spent with a professional arts organisation, where you'll develop a project in a real-world environment.
• In your final year, you can also choose to complete a work placement, where you'll not only gain more practical experience, but also attend employability workshops. Alternatively, you could choose to organise an arts event or carry out an extended case study project.
• You'll develop practical skills in audience development, events planning, and arts funding and fundraising.
• You’ll get the chance to learn directly from arts organisations and cultural businesses, through visits and talks.
• We're based in London – a global leader in the arts and one of the most important cultural centres in the world. London is the perfect place to study this subject, giving you unrivalled access to a diverse range of arts organisations. The city will become your classroom.

Programme Structure

Year 1

• The degree strikes a balance between theories associated with arts management and the practical demands of work in the sector.
• As a result, your first year will blend approaches to digital literacy and visual methods with applied knowledge of arts and events management.
• This will be complemented by an overview of business models for arts and cultural provision in London, and an introduction to fundraising.
• You'll study the following compulsory modules:
  • Principles of Arts Management
  • Digital Cultures, Digital Literacies
  • Arts in London
  • Identity, Agency & Environment 1
  • Fundraising in the Arts
  • Visual Culture
  • Events Management
  • Identity, Agency & Environment 2

Year 2

• In the second year, your knowledge will be developed by focusing on artistic and cultural businesses.
• You will also explore crucial questions associated with audiences.
• Concurrently, you'll take a group professional practice module, which will offer you a supported work experience and set the groundwork in preparation for your third-year professional practice project.
• You'll also study cultural policy and theory, and research the production, distribution, and consumption of the arts.
• You'll study the following compulsory modules:
  • The Audience in Theory and Practice
  • Contemporary Arts and Cultural Theory
  • Managing Arts Organisations and Cultural Businesses
  • Professional Practice in Arts Organisations and Cultural Businesses
  • Cultural Policy in the Arts
• You'll also take 30 credits of option modules.

Year 3

• Your third year focuses on:
  • Dissertation (45 credits)
  • Professional Practice Project (45 credits)
• These modules give you the opportunity to explore issues and questions that you find particularly compelling. Both involve significant independent work, which will hone your skills and provide evidence to employers – and to yourself – of your significant achievements.
• You'll also choose:
  • Option modules to the value of 30 credits

Teaching Style

• This programme is taught through scheduled learning – a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops.
• This includes visits to London and regional cultural organisations.
• You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.

Assessment

• You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices.
• These may include coursework, examinations, group work and projects.

Credits and Levels of Learning

• An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6.
• A standard module is worth 30 credits. Some programmes also contain 15-credit half modules or can be made up of higher-value parts, such as a dissertation or a Major Project.

Entry Requirements

• A-level: BBB
• BTEC: DDM
• International Baccalaureate: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655
• UAL Extended Diploma: Merit overall
• Access: Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 Distinctions and a number of merits/passes in subject-specific modules
• Scottish qualifications: BBBBC (Higher) or BBC (Advanced Higher)
• European Baccalaureate: 75%
• Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H2 H2 H2

Alternative Qualifications and Experience

• We welcome students with a range of educational experiences.
• If you believe you may not meet the standard qualification requirements we would still encourage you to apply because we consider all aspects of your application when making a decision.

International Qualifications

• We also accept a wide range of international qualifications.
• If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.0 with a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme.

Fees and Funding

Annual Tuition Fees

• Home - full-time: £9535
• International - full-time: £20650

Careers

• There is a clear demand in the jobs market for people with the management skills to support the arts and cultural sectors, both domestically and abroad.
• The BA Arts Management degree puts you in a strong position for employability, as it provides you with the knowledge and skills that employers seek.
• Suitable careers for graduates of this degree could include:
  • Fundraising
  • Events management
  • Business and planning
  • Press and communications
  • Arts education
  • Arts and cultural production
• Our former students are currently working at diverse organisations such as:
  • The V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum)
  • Design Museum
  • London Short Film Festival
  • English National Opera
  • Whitechapel Gallery
  • Singapore Art Week
  • Aakash Odedra Company
• They are also forging their own paths in the creative and cultural sectors, for example graduate Tala Lee-Turton who is a creative producer and professional dancer.

Skills

• Through the degree you'll develop knowledge and skills in key areas such as:
  • Events management
  • Funding systems and fundraising
  • Audience development and audience evaluation
  • Budgeting and planning
  • Working in cultural organisations
  • Cultural policy development

Staff

• Dr Katie Beswick
  • Senior Lecturer and Programme Director, Arts Management
  • Katie Beswick’s research interests include - performance, visual art, music, hip hop, housing, class, feminism