Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management)

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2023 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2023 course information
Award granted	Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management)
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2023. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2023. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Online	Yes
Duration	Depending on your professional experience and previous qualifications, the Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) is typically 1 or 1.5 years duration: 1 year full time (2 years part time) - 8 credit points 1.5 year full time (3 years part time) - 12 credit points Deakin courses can also be studied part time over a longer period.
Deakin course code	M785
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Please note that this course is not offered in Trimester 3. For students who commenced before Trimester 2 2020 please refer to previous version of M785 Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - International students should note that, due to visa regulations, this course can only be undertaken while living outside Australia.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) prepares you for leadership roles within the arts and creative industries, while connecting you with like-minded arts professionals who share your passion. Combine business expertise with the hands-on skills employers are seeking and learn from industry-active academics what it takes to forge a successful career in this exciting industry.

Students with an interest in events and festivals are encouraged to consider the event management specialisation where skills obtained are not only sought out by employers, they are directly transferrable to a range of arts manager roles, such as in visual and performing arts and local government organisations.

Ready to thrive, adapt and lead in a rapidly evolving arts industry?

Gain a competitive advantage by studying the only course of its kind in Australia delivered by a business school. The Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) received the highest possible rating for research impact and engagement from the Australian Research Council*.

Whether you’re a creative practitioner working at the grassroots level of the industry or looking to move into a more senior position, the course will give you the tools and training to confidently transition into a leadership role be it within a not-for-profit or commercial organisation.

The course is responsive to trends within the sector, better preparing you for your future role. For example, you might learn how to coordinate a virtual event (an emerging growth area in the industry) in a COVID-19 affected landscape or prepare a business plan for a creative industries startup. Through tasks like this, you can apply the fundamentals of business – including management, marketing, finance, human resources and project management – in arts and cultural management contexts.

In addition to core units of study, you can tailor your degree to your career goals by choosing up to four elective units from any Faculty of Business specialisation. Some of your options include:

Creating Your Arts Business
Managing Innovation
Marketing Management
Business Strategy and Analysis
Consumer Behaviour.

The curriculum's connectedness to the sector comes as a result of course content that’s shaped by an advisory board and delivered by industry experts. Working alongside employers and board members within the industry, our academics develop assessments, projects and content that reflect the challenges of the field. Not only are our academics well-connected, they’re also highly credentialed and experienced. From arts managers influencing arts and cultural policies for government, to Presidents of the Green Room Awards, you’ll be learning from the very best.

Practical experience enhances your employability and grows your professional networks. Some examples of the hands-on learning you can look forward to include:

a community-based arts project documented in the form of a grant application to the Australia Council – a past student was awarded a $35,000 grant for their submission
industry placements – past students have secured placements with the Arts Centre Melbourne and other prominent arts organisations
research projects that train you in valuable critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills.

As competition for our eyes and ears increases, so too does the demand for arts-literate, industry-savvy leaders who can engage interest, secure support and grow audiences. With a sought-after qualification from a leader in arts management education, you’ll be ready to take advantage of this demand and reach your full potential.

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.

Professional recognition

Deakin Business School is in the top 1% of business schools globally and holds both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation in their courses, ensuring graduates are employable worldwide.

Career opportunities

The course’s strong reputation in the industry leads to great career outcomes. Your qualification, in combination with your extensive industry experience, will prepare you for leadership and senior management roles across a range of settings including:

performing and visual arts
festivals
community arts and cultural development
publishing houses
arts and cultural venues
touring companies
screen industries
museums and galleries.

Many leaders within the industry are graduates from this course and have gone on to work in high-profile organisations such as:

Australian Ballet
Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)
Regional Arts Australia
Theatre Network Australia
Creative Partnerships Australia
Arts Centre Melbourne
Opera Australia
Melbourne Fringe Festival
Museum Victoria
National Gallery of Australia
Federal, state and local government arts departments.

This degree will also put you in a strong position to explore some of the high-demand areas within the industry, including audience development, relationship management, festival programming, policy development, production and tour management, fundraising and development, digital content and social media marketing.

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) (M519)
Graduate Diploma of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) (M665)

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcome	Course Learning Outcome
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

Course rules

The Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) is typically 8 or 12 credit points. The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) - your professional experience and previous qualifications - which can save you time and money.

For students undertaking 12 credit points, you study 8 credit points of core units and 4 credit points of elective units, plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point module, MAI010 Academic Integrity Module. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point.

Students are introduced to research tools and techniques in core units of the course where they learn analytic skills and the practical application of those skills in professional contexts. They must also complete advanced level units and a capstone unit that require them to integrate the skills learnt over their course of study and produce applied pieces of research with reference to prevailing literature.

Specialisations

Faculty-wide specialisations (optional)

Refer to the details of each specialisation for availability.

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point unit

To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

MAI010

Academic Integrity Module

Core units

MMK792

Arts Marketing

MMM790

Arts Management

MPA702

Financial Interpretation

MPM722

Human Resource Management

MMM793

Managing Events

MMM799

Arts Fundraising and Sponsorship

MMM796

Managing Arts in Community Settings

MMM707

Creative Industries ^(Capstone)

Elective units

The remaining 4 credit points may be selected from:

Recommended electives^{^}
a faculty-wide specialisation
postgraduate units offered by the University (subject to eligibility)

^Recommended electives

ACA715

Creating Your Arts Business

MPT712/MPM712

Managing Innovation ^{^}

MPK732

Marketing Management

MPM703

Business Strategy and Analysis

AIP773

Governance and Accountability

MPK713

Consumer Behaviour

MPP822

Research in Practice

MWL Units:

MWL705

Business for Social Impact

MWL716

Consultancy Experience

MWL717

Entrepreneurship Experience

MWL718

Internship

^ MPT code denotes study tour version of the unit

Work experience

This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more elective work integrated learning units.
More information: WIL Programs

Other course information

Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Other learning experiences

This course includes the option of other learning experiences including residential and study tour units.

Research and research-related study

Principles of academic and research integrity are embedded within the core units undertaken for this course