Goldsmiths College University of London
Arts Administration and Cultural Policy
Drama Department
New Cross
London, SE 14 6NW
United Kingdom
Main Phone: +44 207 919 7414
Main E-Mail: drama@gold.ac.uk
Degree/Credential: Graduate (MA)
Web Site: http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk
Program Director: GLidstone [link available to AAAE members only]
Program Goals and Objectives
This full time one year MA aims to enables the student to reach her/his potential as a creative Arts Administrator in areas of both policy and practice. The programme will engage with key issues in the formulation of policy and the administration of culture, in particular those relating to the performing arts. Through both analysis of contemporary and recent practice and through practical work in a range of areas students will be able to develop awareness and a critical approach to the discipline. By harnessing this awareness they will be able to analyse and intervene effectively in the production of contemporary arts. The programme will also develop students’ ability to study and assess the methodology of administrative practice and apply learnt skills, which in turn will enable the student to be a creative Arts Administrator or Policy Maker in a variety of contexts.By studying areas such as Arts Policy and Practice in Europe, Arts Education, Regeneration through Arts, Arts and Tourism and the Role of Arts in National and Cultural Identity students will gain an understanding of the context in which specific administrative and management skills can be applied. Through specialist modules in Audience Development, Fundraising, Business Planning for the Arts and Management Practice, as well as the opportunity to undertake a placement with an arts organisation students will be equipped with the necessary practical skills to develop their potential to contribute to the creation of contemporary arts.
These specific skills and the knowledge gained throughout the programme will also enable students to develop a variety of additional transferable skills applicable to many other areas of employment. For those who are committed to a career in arts administration or cultural policy but are not sure in which area to specialise, the programme provides the opportunity to expand their knowledge of a range of areas and develop a clearer understanding of which may be the most appropriate for them. The optional complementary and contextual courses available to all MA students in the Drama Department also provides the opportunity for students to expand their knowledge of the arts in areas that maybe unfamiliar to them.
To additionally develop specific knowledge and skills, students may take a music pathway through this programme. Where options are available for shared theory courses they can take equivalent courses offered on the MMus programme of the Music Department. They may also choose to present their Business Plan and Placement Report for a music based arts organisation.
Administration of the Program
Gerald Lidstone directs the programme. He also teaches key lectures and seminars, advises students in their internships and tutors their dissertations. The following staff also teach sections of the programme. Gerri Morris of Morris Hargreaves McIntyre, Jonathan Meth of Writernet, Karla Barnacle Best of Moti Roti and Rod Fisher of International Intelligence on Culture.Curriculum
Attendance is mandatory for all taught sections of the course. Attendance for the course on business planning and the placement on the management practice course is dependent on the assessment pathway offered.
Cultural Policy and Practice (a complementary and contextual course) is compulsory for Arts Administration and Cultural Policy Students. The course consists of lecture-seminars throughout the autumn term. Students are required to submit a 4,000-word essay
The Cultural Policy and Practice courses 2-4, take place throughout the three terms of the course, for one day in the autumn and the spring terms and for half a day in the summer term. The courses are supported by timetabled tutorials in all three terms. You are required to submit a dissertation of 8,11, or 15,000 words depending on your assessment pathway.
The Introduction to Audience Development and the Introduction to Fundraising courses take place in the autumn term . The knowledge and skills gained on these courses is formative and is tested though the written business plan, placement report and the dissertation.
Business Planning for the Arts, this course is taught during the first part of the spring term for two hours a week for five weeks and will include an additional one day site visit to the arts organisation for which the plan will be prepared. Subsequently students will have two tutorials to develop their individual plan. You will be required to submit the plan of 3,000 words (you may add additional appendices).
Management and Professional Practice is taught for two hours a week throughout the spring term through lecture-seminars. In addition students will undertake a placement with an arts organisation. Placement partners are as diverse as the NCA to the Barbican, Philharmonia Orchestra, The Royal Court, RNT, ICA, Soho Theatre, LIFT and include a range of fringe theatres and arts venues. The time spent on placement will be negotiated with the organisation and will be different for each student dependent on the function of the organisation. However the primary aim will be for students to be in a position to be able to research for their placement report. Students will receive placement guidelines and tutorial support in this area. You are required to submit a placement report of 4,000 words.
Complementary and Contextual Courses: options
In the spring term students may choose one of the following courses: Contemporary Directors, Radical Performance or The Sociocultural Analysis of the Musical. Students are required to submit a 4,000-word essay.
Music Pathway
Students undertaking the Music Pathway may study appropriate courses on the MMus programme in either the autumn or spring or summer terms. They may take any two five-week courses. Students will be required to submit a 4,000-word essay on the advertised date.
Duration of Programme of Study
Full-time: One calendar year
Part-time: Two calendar years
Progression Requirements
Part-time students must normally pass all assessments taken in Year One before proceeding to Year Two. Part-time students normally complete the complementary/contextual courses in their first year of study, and the specialism in the second.
Admissions
Overseas (non-EU) StudentsApplication forms can be downloaded. (www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/study-options/postgraduate-appforms.php) For a paper version, please contact:
International Office
Goldsmiths College
University of London
New Cross
London SE14 6NW
UK
Telephone: +44 20 7919 7702 (direct line)
Facsimile : +44 20 7919 7704
E-mail: international-office@gold.ac.uk