Cultural Leadership MA

This course is now full for 2010 entry

It is vital that cultural leaders combine passion and belief in their cause with the capacity to lead organisations into the future – a future that is increasingly unpredictable. They need to have confidence and resilience as well as the ability to manage people, systems and bureaucracy – all while sustaining their personal creativity and vision.

Fiona Reynolds CBE

Cultural Leaders have the capacity to ask questions other people didn’t think of, turn these questions into a dynamic vision and drive the vision forward through all the problems.

John McGrath

Introduction

The MA Cultural Leadership is founded on a conviction that leadership is dynamic; it operates at all levels of an organization and is not the sole preserve of the CEO. This collective and collaborative leadership requires individuals with confidence, passion and strong self awareness, a vision for the future and the ability to communicate and motivate others to help make this vision a reality.

The MA Cultural Leadership has been developed to provide Masters level training that focuses on the leadership needs of 21st century cultural organizations and it does this in collaboration with employers within the sector, generating debate, critical awareness and a growing and shared knowledge base. Since cultural managers are often self taught and find it hard to make time for their own professional development, this programme has been designed to provide opportunities for personal and professional development without necessarily taking students away from their workplace. 

The programme is flexible and innovative. More specific to the sector than an MBA and more leadership-focused than an arts management programme, it offers a range of pathways for the emerging leader wishing to develop knowledge, skills and confidence.   

LJMU is a vibrant university with a strong commitment to vocational relevance and collaborative provision. LJMU is a partner in Culture Campus and is working with the University of Liverpool to deliver the highly innovative longitudinal research programme assessing the impact of Capital of Culture 2008, IMPACTS08. Furthermore, exciting developments such as the new Design Academy, the Film Academy and The Automatic will provide exciting opportunities for students on this programme.

This unique programme is offered in Liverpool Capital of Culture 2008 where it connects closely to the vibrant and dynamic cultural sector.  With a local, regional, national and international remit and focus the programme operates through key partnerships.

Our Partners

Liverpool is a city rich in the arts and as European Capital of Culture 2008, the city is gearing up for a spectacular year and a legacy that will endure. Already, 2008 is the rocket fuel that is propelling Liverpool's economy, and solid foundations have now been laid for its ongoing transformation into a world-class city. It is within this rich context that we have developed the MA Cultural Leadership programme and it is in collaboration with the sector that we will deliver it.

Practitioner engagement and relationships with cultural organisations inform both the development and delivery of modules, providing core elements such as research project opportunities, teaching input and case study development.

Current partners include:

• Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
• Tate Liverpool
• Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse
• Liverpool Biennial
• North West Disability Arts Forum
• Bluecoat Arts Centre
• FACT
• Business in the Arts: North West
• Arts and Business

The programme is therefore uniquely placed to ensure that knowledge transfer and a practice based/ applied research focus will support the sector, whilst also ensuring that the programme benefits from research informed teaching and learning strategies.

The Programme

MA Cultural Leadership is an innovative new programme targeted at cultural and the creative industries. If studied full time, it is a year long programme however, practitioners may wish to study part time and this could take from eighteen months to four years depending on the way in which an individual chooses to negotiate the programme content. Flexibility is the key. We recognise that taking time away from work is often difficult for busy professionals and we have designed the programme with this in mind.

It is possible to enter the programme with one of the following target awards in mind:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Cultural Leadership (60 credits)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Cultural Leadership (120 credits)
• MA in Cultural Leadership (180 credits)

Core modules

There are 6 core modules:

The Cultural Sector: Context and Issues: 20 credits

This module is designed to establish a baseline for study on the programme by examining the nature of the cultural sector, its practices and values and the issues currently being faced by 21st century cultural organisations. It aims to introduce the student to a wide range of approaches and encourage critical appraisal and evaluation of organisations.

Leadership: 20 credits

This module focuses on a critical evaluation of the individual student’s skills, knowledge and potential in relation to leadership. It also aims to develop an awareness of core leadership practices, models and challenges.

Cultural Leadership in Practice: 20 credits

This module aims to provide the student with a toolbox of creative management skills, encourages the integration of these skills in a holistic problem solving context and a deep understanding of their relevance to the cultural leader.

Leading Change: 30 credits

This module builds on MASCLM002 by developing skills and understanding of strategy and the leadership of change. Students apply theory to practice in either case or workplace situations.

Management Project: 30 credits

This module aims to develop research skills which are then applied in practical contexts. It develops the ability to work to a brief and then to evaluate performance and learning.

Dissertation: 60 credits

This module aims to support the student in researching and presenting a 15,000 word dissertation on an area of study related to the themes and concerns of Cultural Leadership. This module assesses the ability to present, in scholarly form, a sustained piece of research that demonstrates knowledge and understanding of a relevant field, appropriate methodologies and critical context, which organizes material into a clear and relevant argument, and shows the ability to work independently.

Progression between semesters builds knowledge and skills and creates a coherent pathway for the individual student whether they are studying full or part time.

The Programme will be taught in intensive blocks through a rich mix of seminars and workshops (often led by practitioners) research projects, on-line materials, case studies and coaching.  Each participants’ work experience will be vital to the learning process and provide the raw material for reflection and analysis.

The Course Team

The programme is based within the School of Art and Design but sits at Faculty level. This means that it is able to draw on different discourses and academic disciplines and this is one of its unique characteristics. The course team is drawn from across the faculty and from within the sector and this will ensure a breadth of experience and support.

The Course Leader, Susanne Burns, is currently a practicing Management Consultant within the cultural sector with 26 years of senior management and leadership roles within the sector. Her leadership roles have included being Director of Business Development at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Development Director at FACT. She now works both regionally and nationally. Currently she is acting as Project Evaluator for Youth Dance England on a major national development project funded by ACE and the DCMS. At the same time she is working on an organisational development project for Liverpool Biennial. This combination of regional and national profile and engagement will inform the programme and ensure that it remains connected and current.

Career prospects

Course work links directly to the workplace and enhances the students’ abilities in their current roles or organisations by encouraging them to deal with real problems and situations. More specific to the cultural sector than an MBA, the programme is designed to develop the professional skills of cultural managers.  

Admission to the MA Cultural Leadership

All candidates must be able to demonstrate an ability to benefit from and contribute to the programme. This will normally mean that you are currently employed within the cultural sector

Although most applicants will be graduates, the fact that candidates may not have a degree is not necessarily a bar to entry. Our philosophy enables us to accept a wide range of applicants.

Applications from non standard applicants are positively welcomed as this usually means they will have significantly more experience.

All candidates must be able to demonstrate the ability to benefit from and contribute to the programme. This will normally mean that candidates will be currently employed within the cultural/ creative sector, will have managed teams, people and budgets and will have significant relevant managerial experience.

Where English is not a first language, an IELTS score of at least 7 must be achieved.

Applicants need to complete an application form and provide evidence of previous qualifications. We also require a clearly written a personal statement outlining relevant experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the course.

Applicants will normally be interviewed. However, we recognise that some overseas applicants will not be able to attend interviews in person due to geography and cost and in these instances we will conduct telephone interviews.

Delivery of MA Cultural Leadership

The course will be delivered during 2009-10 in 7 intensive teaching weekends to be run on the following dates:

2-4 October 2009 (Friday-Sunday inclusive)
23-25 October 2009 (Friday-Sunday inclusive)
31st October – 1st November 2009
30-31 January 2010
27-28 February 2010
27-28 March 2010
24-25 April 2010

Along with one intensive teaching week starting on:

Monday 11th January 2010 (Monday-Saturday inclusive)

Further information

If you have any queries relating to this programme please contact:

Liverpool School of Art & Design
Art and Design Academy
2 Duckinfield Street
Off Brownlow Hill
Liverpool L3 5RD

Tel: +44(0)151 904 1157
Email: massadmissions@ljmu.ac.uk