Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management)

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Award granted	Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management)
Deakin course code	M785
Course version	1
Faculty	Faculty of Business and Law
Course Information	For students who commenced from 2017 to 2020
Campus	For students who commenced prior to 2020 only
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9
Note: The final intake for this course version was 2019. Students should contact a Student Adviser in Student Central for course, course maps and enrolment information.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Australia Council for the Arts estimates that cultural activity contributes $50 billion to Australia’s GDP. In addition to its impressive size, the arts and cultural sector is notable for its ever evolving profile, creating a demand for responsive and highly trained art managers. These managers are taking on leadership roles in small-medium arts organisations, cultural venues, festivals, heritage sites, publishing houses and a range of performing and visual arts programs.

This Masters program develops students’ skills in innovation and leadership through practical experience in the arts and cultural sector. Under the direction of teachers with extensive industry experience, it prepares graduates who will lead the arts and cultural sector into the future.
This course provides you with a tailored business education emphasising management, marketing and finance skills. These skill-sets are vital for the success of arts and cultural organisations as they face common challenges such as organisational sustainability, enhancing cultural vitality and building relationships with audiences.

You’ll be taught by staff with wide-reaching, practical experience in management and leadership across a range of arts and cultural sectors. You’ll also have the opportunity to engage with a range of industry representatives, be exposed to the work of cutting-edge thinkers, and integrate your work and learning.
Our course is structured within the framework of a business education and enhanced through a series of industry-specific projects ideal for those working in the arts and cultural sectors. It includes an internship/ work project capstone unit that ensures students are able to apply their theoretical knowledge through ‘hands on’ industry practice.

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Business and Law, you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Career opportunities

This program prepares graduates for leadership roles across the range of cultural organisations, including: performing arts, visual arts, festivals, community events, facilities, publishing houses, music venues, screen industries, cultural heritage and museums.

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Assess a broad range of specialised management approaches and their application to arts organisations, while contributing to new discipline knowledge and extending current arts management practice.
Communication	Determine appropriate communication strategies and techniques in the practice of arts management.
Digital literacy	Apply the use of digital technologies in relation to arts the practice of arts management.
Critical thinking	Appraise and synthesise information in order to understand and apply theories of arts management and extend current practice.
Problem solving	Determine solutions to a diverse range of current and emerging arts management challenges and issues.
Self-management	Personalise reflections on arts management practice and plan professional careers.
Teamwork	Participate and collaborate with arts management practitioners.
Global citizenship	Incorporate arts management theory and practice from a range of cultural and international contexts and address the requirements of ethical practice.

Approved by Faculty Board

Course rules

To complete the Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) students must pass (insert credit points) credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
9 credit points of core units
1 credit point of Work Integrated Learning unit (WIL)
6 credit points of course elective units

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University's vocabulary.