MusM Music (Musicology) / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Business Strategies for Arts, Culture and Creative Industries

Course unit fact file
Unit code SALC60072
Credit rating 30
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to key processes, factors, tools and approaches involved in strategic and operational management of arts, cultural and creative industries organisations. Its content blends professional insight, case studies and grey material with theoretical approaches, to be delivered via blended learning through lectures, seminars, workshops and site visits. During the course, students will learn how to develop their business strategy portfolios including a pitch presentation, case study analysis, funding proposal, and business plan.

 

 

Aims

  • Introduce a range of relevant functions which support marketing, finance, business development, governance, resource development and fundraising in arts, heritage and cultural organisations.
  • Provide specialist advice and insight from cultural professionals on models and approaches to arts management, project management, and business development.
  • Explore the political, social and economic context and current environment for creative and cultural businesses and organisations.

 

Teaching and learning methods

Some of the lectures for this unit will be delivered online.

Knowledge and understanding

  • Develop a critical understanding of theoretical and practical tools and relevant skills, practices and issues relevant to business development, planning, fundraising and project management in the arts, culture and heritage sectors
  • Demonstrate relevant knowledge of the context for the management and strategic development of arts and cultural organisations and be able to apply and adapt this knowledge in professional practice

Intellectual skills

  • Undertake self-directed learning and skills acquisition; conduct independent, critical fieldwork and develop appropriate methodological and analytical skills
  • Apply skills and ideas learned in one institutional context to another, while remaining aware of the complexity of the issues
  • Research, design and develop appropriate business strategies and planning processes for arts and cultural management functions (e.g.  marketing, communications, branding, budgeting, business planning, fund-raising, human resources and performance management)

Practical skills

  • Communicate complex research findings through clear written and verbal articulation, supported by appropriate technological tools
  • Retrieve, select and critically evaluate information from a variety of sources, including libraries, archives and the internet

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Communicate information and ideas effectively in a professional, as well as an academic environment.
  • Critically evaluate personal performance through monitoring and analytical reflection.
  • Demonstrate independent learning ability suitable for continuing study and professional development.

Employability skills

Other
Students on this course will learn about and apply project management, resource development and business planning tools and strategies relevant to the arts, culture and heritage sectors. They will learn how to critical analyse the context, markets risk and quality controls for projects and organisations in these sectors, and will devise funding applications and business strategies which demonstrate their understanding and are ready to apply in real-world arts, heritage and museum management.

Assessment methods

Assessment Task Formative or Summative Weighting within unit
Pitch presentation for funding application Formative  
Funding application, including project/programme aims and objectives, audience/market analysis, business case, budget, schedule, evaluation framework Summative 50%
Business plan document, including Mission, Vision, Fundraising plan, audience development plan, governance model, organisations structure and evaluation framework Summative 50%

Feedback methods

Feedback method

Formative or Summative

Verbal feedback from lecturing staff and peers on pitch presentation of project idea

Formative

Written feedback on funding application proposal 

Formative

Written feedback on funding application and business planning assessments

Summative

 

Recommended reading

Book, L. and Phillips, D.P. eds. (2013) Creativity and Entrepeneurship: Chaning Currents in Education and Public Life, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.

Byrnes, W (2009) ‘Chapter 6: Organizing and Organizational Design’ in Management and the Arts, Focal Press. 

Cray, D. and L. Inglis, 2011. ‘Strategic Decision Making in Arts Organizations’ , The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society, 41 (2): 84-102,

Hagoort, G., 2005. Art Management: Entrepreneurial Style. Utrecht : Eburon.

Daigle, P. and L. Rouleau, 2010. ‘Strategic Plans in Arts Organizations: A Tool of Compromise between Artistic and Managerial Values’ , International Journal of Arts Management, 12 (3): 13-30,

Mullins, J. W. 2006. The New Business Road Test. What entrepreneurs and executives should do before writing a business plan. 2nd edition. London: Prentice Hall.

McNicholas, B. 2004. “Arts, Culture and Business: A Relationship Transformation, a Nascent Field.” International Journal of Arts Management Vol 7 No 1.

Munoz-Seca, B. and Riverola, J. 2010. When Business Meets Culture. Ideas and Experience for Mutual Profit. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.

Varbanova, L. (2013) Strategic Management in the Arts, New York & London: Routledge.

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Fieldwork 14
Seminars 36
Independent study hours
Independent study 238

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Abigail Gilmore Unit coordinator

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