Arts Management & Creative Producing MA

Program Overview

The MA in Arts Management & Creative Producing at University College Cork equips students with the skills and knowledge to become successful arts managers and creative producers. It emphasizes learning through professional practice, with opportunities for hands-on training at Cork Opera House and a focus on interdisciplinary art practices. Graduates can pursue a wide range of careers in the cultural sector, including performing arts management, event producing, and creative project management.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MA in Arts Management & Creative Producing is a postgraduate program offered by the College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences (CACSSS) at University College Cork (UCC). This program aims to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful arts managers and creative producers. It focuses on training in arts leadership and management, providing essential practical skills in event organization across various art forms, including theatre, music, film, dance, literature, visual, and performance art. The program emphasizes learning through professional practice, reflecting UCC's reputation as a center of excellence in interdisciplinary art practices.

Outline:

The MA in Arts Management & Creative Producing is a full-time program running for 12 months or a part-time program running for 24 months. The program emphasizes learning through a combination of professional practice in collaboration with the Cork Opera House and traditional classroom learning. Students take core modules on arts management and creative producing, culminating in an end-of-year arts placement. As a final project, students can tailor their own professional program of work, either on an online platform or in live presentation (depending on prevailing conditions), in collaboration with Cork Opera House.

Modules:

Part I (45 credits):

• DR6043 Creative Producing & Curating - Portfolio Development (10 credits): This module focuses on developing a portfolio of creative producing and curating work.
• DR6045 Artistic Leadership and Strategies in Artistic Leadership (5 credits): This module explores the role of artistic leadership in the arts sector.
• DR6051 Dialogues on Culture (5 credits): This module examines contemporary issues in culture and the arts.
• MG4036 Strategic Management (5 credits): This module introduces students to the principles of strategic management.
• MG4048 Digital Marketing (5 credits): This module explores the use of digital marketing in the arts sector.

Part II (45 credits):

• DR6047 Arts Placement (5 credits): This module provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in an arts organization.

Teaching:

The program's teaching approach reflects a commitment to the Connected Curriculum, emphasizing the connection between students, learning, research, and leadership. The teaching team includes industry experts and professionals, such as Dr. Marie Kelly (formerly of the Abbey Theatre) and Eibhlín Gleeson (CEO, Cork Opera House). The program also benefits from a unique partnership with the Cork Opera House, which provides opportunities for hands-on training and professional development.

Careers:

Upon completion of the program, students can pursue a wide range of opportunities in the cultural sector and across the creative industries, including:

• Performing arts management (managing arts venues and organizations)
• Independent event producing and curating (theatre, performance, dance, and other arts events, festivals, exhibitions, etc.)
• Audience engagement, fundraising, marketing, and PR
• Working in national/international government funding agencies and other cultural agencies
• Creative project management in corporate and creative industries

Other:

The program offers a tangible link between the classroom and the professional environment, providing students with:

• Hands-on training through UCC's partnership with Cork Opera House
• Access to industry-experienced teachers and active professionals
• Direct engagement with the industry, such as producing work at the Cork Opera House or mounting artistic outputs on an online platform
• Learning in a culturally engaged city with several centers of excellence in teaching in the Arts
• Access to UCC Ignite, encouraging entrepreneurship
• Field trips, visiting lectures, and symposia on producing and arts management, which encourage networking and understanding of the cultural sector
• Access to the School of Film, Music, and Theatre's range of research-related activities and events, including FUAIM and Perforum.