Experience and understand the creative economy, cultural policy and current best practice in professional arts management.

  • Develop professional networks with help from sector practitioners and academic experts.
  • Boost your employability with work-based experience in arts and cultural organisations.
  • Gain an understanding of arts and cultural management in an international context.

This flexible course adapts to the ever changing world of culture and the arts. It will expand your theoretical understanding and professional knowledge of arts and cultural management, through hands-on experience and work-based learning.

We’ll give you the unique opportunity to engage with an extensive range of regional, national and international arts and cultural organisations. These cover the full range of the creative industries including dance, theatre, music, digital creativity, fine art, fashion and heritage.

You’ll graduate as a responsive, resilient, flexible and imaginative practitioner, equally comfortable in a variety of settings, adept at working in partnership with a wide range of organisations.

Our MA Arts Management is a great choice for those from a variety of backgrounds. Whether your background is business or arts, this is a great stepping stone for your future career.

"I was supported through both of my degrees to the most excellent standard, and was offered really wonderful opportunities."

Charlotte Kippax, BA (Hons) History and Heritage and MA Arts Management

What you'll learn

Overview

Building on your own experience and background, you’ll expand your professional arts knowledge, management skills, entrepreneurial thinking and creative leadership skills.

Delivered in close collaboration with leading arts organisations, we’ll provide you with the theoretical framework, appropriate skills and practical experience to meet the challenges of working in your chosen field.

You’ll cover theory, critical thinking and skills development as well as gaining practical experience. You’ll analyse debates in and around culture and the arts, and apply them to contemporary practice, structures, funding and participation.

Course modules

Our Arts Management course includes or offers the following modules. Please check the programme document for more information on which modules are core, required or optional.

  • Arts Management in the 21st Century
  • Placement
  • Managing Arts and Cultural Events
  • Extended Placement Project
  • Dissertation
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Managing People
  • Governance, Ethics and Risk Management
  • Digital Marketing.
How will I be assessed?

You'll be assessed by a variety of methods that may include some or all of the following across the various modules on the course:

  • Reports on work-based assignments
  • Research project reports
  • Portfolios
  • Reflective learning and work-experience journals
  • Reviews
  • Proposal papers for projects, funding or events, business plans, or strategy documents
  • Project progress reports
  • Project evaluations
  • Presentations.
How will I be taught?

We combine academic study with professional work experience. You’ll learn through a variety of activities including lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, online activity and discussion, work-based learning, and research projects.

Staff on this course offer you access to a wide range of academic and practical expertise in arts and cultural management. You’ll benefit from one-to-one tutorials, workshops, peer-support and shared learning. We work with you to ensure that what you learn on the course develops into effective practice in the workplace.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

Opportunities

Visiting lecturers

As well as researching and reflecting on current policy and debate in arts and cultural management today, you'll also be introduced to people who are dealing with the reality of how these play out in arts organisations in practice. You'll benefit from being taught by a range of professional practitioners from across the arts and cultural sectors. They deliver lectures and workshops, mentor you on work experience and research projects, and become part of your own developing professional networks.

Gain experience in the sector

At the heart of this course is work-based experience and embedded networking opportunities. You'll have opportunities to assess current practice and to research the wider theoretical and academic contexts of arts and cultural management today.

Prepare for a career in arts management

Culture, the arts and the creative industries are estimated to be worth over £126 billion to the UK economy.

Careers in arts management are varied and cover every cultural and artistic area. They include roles in:

  • Events and venue management
  • Programming events and seasons
  • Marketing
  • Audience development
  • Fundraising
  • Community engagement and social inclusion
  • Education and learning
  • Managing artists and performers.

Adobe Creative Campus

Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.   

"I was able to balance the course well with working full time, and the two even complemented each other. The subject content was really fascinating, particularly the chance to meet representatives from the Arts sector."

Charlotte Kippax, Arts Management graduate

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

The majority of module workshops, seminars and tutorials are held at our Newton Park campus.

Fees

2025 entry
Student Annual tuition fee
UK full time £9,225
UK part time £4,613
International full time £17,835

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document (linked under the main image on this page) for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

We’re looking for enthusiastic, intelligent, hard-working individuals who have a thirst for knowledge and skills.

Typical offers

You will normally have a good undergraduate degree in any academic subject. You may be considered without an undergraduate degree, if you can demonstrate considerable relevant experience. You may be asked to attend an interview. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) web page to learn more.

If English is not your first language, you'll need to provide evidence of proficiency in the English language. The Admissions Team assesses applications individually, but for postgraduate courses we're looking for an IELTS score of between 6.0-7.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking).

How do I apply?

Ready to apply? Click the "apply now" button in the centre of this page.

Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply pages.

International students should visit our international pages for more information about our entry requirements, fees, scholarships and student support.

When to apply

Many of our postgraduate courses have a limited number of student spaces. To avoid the disappointment of the course being full, we recommend that you apply now.

Late applications (generally those made after 31 July) will only be considered if places remain on the course.

Need more information or still have questions? Contact us to discuss your situation.