Arts and Cultural Management Diploma
Overview
Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications
MacEwan.ca/ArtsManagement
MacEwan University’s innovative and dynamic two-year 60-credit diploma in Arts and Cultural Management will prepare you for a career in arts management. Whether you are a practicing artist looking for the skill set to manage your own career or someone who loves supporting the creation and development of arts and culture in your community, this diploma will prepare you to take on administrative and management roles in the creative and cultural sectors. Building on the success of almost 40 years of arts management training at MacEwan University, you will leave the program with the skills you need to begin an exciting career in arts and cultural management.
Through the program, you develop close ties to the arts and cultural community, and emerge from your studies ready to assist organizations in the areas of fund/resource and audience development, publicity and media relations, human resource management, special event planning, project management, and much more.
After completing the academic portion of the program, you will practice what you have learned in an exciting two-month field placement with an organization of your choice. This practical experience comprises six credits in the credential and is a key factor for your successful transition into paid employment in the sector.
A variety of international educational opportunities are available to students throughout their course of study, including cultural study tours and international exchange opportunities.
If you have other post-secondary education and want to start working sooner, you may choose to exit the program with a certificate after one year of study. The program is available through classroom study or online, full-time or part-time.
Career Potential
Graduates can be found working across Canada in a wide variety of arts organizations, large and small; as fundraisers and fund development officers for arts organizations, managers of professional theatres; volunteer or marketing coordinators, special event coordinators, publicists, artist managers, and festival directors; or as public programming managers in museums and art galleries. Many graduates transition into starting their own businesses or managing their own artistic practice.
Transferability
Internal Opportunities
MacEwan University is committed to providing bridging and laddering opportunities to its certificate and diploma graduates. Graduates of this diploma may be granted credit towards various MacEwan University diploma and degree programs:
- Bachelor of Arts up to 33 credits
- Bachelor of Commerce up to 42 credits
- Bachelor of Communication Studies up to 51 credits
Students are advised to consult an advisor for specific admission requirements.
External Opportunities
All courses completed for the Arts and Cultural Management diploma are credit courses that may be transferable individually toward further study at other Alberta institutions.
Students presenting a completed diploma in this program may be eligible for a block transfer to other Alberta institutions. University of Alberta students in the Bachelor of Arts in Drama program may complete 18 credits of coursework in this program at MacEwan University and transfer the credit towards a minor in Arts Management at the University of Alberta. For current, detailed information on individual course and diploma transferability, refer to the Learner Pathways System at www.transferalberta.ca or contact the receiving institution directly.
Technology Integration
Classroom students in the Arts and Cultural Management program are required to purchase a laptop and the necessary software identified by the program. This initiative is designed to maximize student learning through the integration of their coursework and the software used in the field.
For more information, attend a program information session (dates are listed on the program website at MacEwan.ca/ArtsManagement), become a student for a day or contact an advisor.
Contact Information
Program of Study
| Year I | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| AGAD 100 | Foundations of Arts and Cultural Management | 3 |
| AGAD 105 | Accounting in Arts and Cultural Management | 3 |
| AGAD 107 or MGTS 107 | Computer Applications in Arts and Cultural Management or Business Computing | 3 |
| AGAD 112 | Introduction to Audience and Resource Development | 3 |
| AGAD 120 or AGAD 320 | Managing and Leading in Arts and Culture (in Year 1 or 2) or Leadership Seminar | 3 |
| AGAD 122 | Applied Audience and Resource Development | 3 |
| AGAD 123 | Human Resources in Arts and Cultural Management | 3 |
| ENGL 102 or WRIT 101 | Analysis and Argument or First Year Writing | 3 |
| Options | Select two AGAD courses (see below) | 6 |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Year II | ||
| AGAD 203 | Introduction to Project Management in Arts and Culture | 3 |
| AGAD 223 | Applied Project Management in Arts and Culture | 3 |
| AGAD 229 | Work Integrated Learning Preparation | 0 |
| AGAD 232 | Advanced Audience and Resource Development | 3 |
| AGAD 235 | Work Integrated Learning | 6 |
| Options | Select two AGAD courses (see below) | 6 |
| Electives | Select two electives | 6 |
| Choose an ENGL course from the following: | 3 | |
| Approaches to Literature: Trends and Traditions | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Narrative Across Media | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Contemporary Literature and Culture | ||
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Option Courses
Note: Not all option courses are offered every year.
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AGAD 209 | Publicity and Media Relations in the Arts | 3 |
| AGAD 225 | Performing Arts Management | 3 |
| AGAD 226 | Museum and Gallery Management | 3 |
| AGAD 227 | Managing in the Music Industry | 3 |
| AGAD 230 | Independent Study | 3 |
| AGAD 240 | Event Management | 3 |
| AGAD 300 | Internal Practicum in Arts Management | 3 |
| AGAD 301 | Cultural Policy and Advocacy | 3 |
| AGAD 340 | Community Cultural Development and Engagement | 3 |
The minimum passing grade for a course at MacEwan University is a D unless otherwise noted next to the appropriate course in the program of study.
Course Substitutions
| Credit Earned in: | May Be Substituted for Credit in Program Course: |
|---|---|
| AGAD 103 and AGAD 127 | AGAD 112 |
| AGAD 121 and AGAD 127 | AGAD 122 |
| AGAD 129 and AGAD 130 | AGAD 120 |
| AGAD 103 and AGAD 127 and AGAD 121 | AGAD 232 |
| AGAD 125 | AGAD 225 |
| AGAD 126 | AGAD 226 |
| AGAD 101 or AGAD 201 | AGAD 301 |
| AGAD 109 | AGAD 209 |
Program Regulations
Declaring the Certificate Exit Option
Students who choose the certificate exit option for this program must complete a total of 36 credits – all Year 1 core courses, three English credits, two options, and AGAD 229 Work Integrated Learning Preparation and AGAD 235 Work Integrated Learning per the Program of Study. Students are required to declare their intention for the certificate exit option, in writing, to the Chair by November 30 to ensure an appropriate field placement can be arranged for the Spring/Summer term (May and June).
Field Placement Term
Students taking either the diploma or certificate exit program must successfully complete all courses for the chosen credential with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in order to register in AGAD 235 Work Integrated Learning.
Program of Study
Students taking the diploma must complete six credits of electives and six credits of English. Arts and Cultural Management program courses may not be used as electives.
Students must also take 12 option credits, with a minimum of 9 of those credits coming from Arts and Cultural Management option offerings. The remaining 3 credits may be taken from courses offered in other programs in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications from an approved list and pending availability.