Arts Management

This programme will equip you for working in the cultural industries, with a specific focus on working in and managing the arts.

Why study BA Arts Management at Goldsmiths

• Culture and the arts are vital to the global creative economy. On this exciting degree you'll develop a powerful combination of theoretical insights and professional skills to help prepare you for success in these sectors.

• 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.

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
Identity, Agency & Environment 2
Fundraising in the Arts
Visual Culture
Events Management

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 1 or 2 option modules. These may be chosen from a list provided by the department, or you may decide to take the following modules:
The Goldsmiths Elective
Goldsmiths’ Social Change Module

Year 3
Your third year focuses on:
Dissertation
Professional Practice Project

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:
1 or 2 option modules to the value of 30 credits.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

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