27763 Arts and Cultural Policy

Subject level: Postgraduate

Handbook description

The aim of this subject is to explore theoretical and conceptual frameworks with which to discuss and critically evaluate current and ongoing issues within the arts industry and to enable students to pursue their own research interests. These interests are related to ongoing professional arts involvement and supported through regular seminar participation. The fields of cultural management and cultural economy form the basis of the subject's critical focus. It draws broadly upon sociology, cultural economy and management concepts to analyse cultural production and consumption. The subject encourages students to investigate a cultural policy in relation to a specific arts organisation or its audience.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Understand the nature of policy, contexts and processes of policy making.
2. Discuss and critically evaluate issues in arts and cultural policy.
3. Explore theoretical and conceptual policy frameworks to analyse ongoing and current issues within the arts and cultural sector.
4. Undertake research into an aspect of arts and cultural policy supported by regular seminar participation.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject offers the opportunity to explore selected issues in relation to arts and cultural policy in depth. It is designed for Master degree students in the Arts Management and is a capstone subject for those specialising in arts management. The subject draws broadly upon sociology, cultural management and concepts of cultural economy to explore cultural production/supply and consumption/demand and policy development by government and other stakeholders.

Teaching and learning strategies

Students are expected to take the greatest responsibility for their own learning in this subject. Seminar sessions provide a forum for discussion and debate, and an opportunity to gain feedback on research interests. Students will meet weekly in a seminar session. The first four weeks will involve lectures and readings that follow a nominated path, investigating broad themes relating to arts and cultural policy. Readings will be discussed in depth, guided by a series of weekly questions/discussion points. The remaining nine weeks will involve students leading the seminar sessions with the presentation of a discussion paper at 'draft' stage. Each seminar paper will be available for distribution to students in the week prior, so as to allow time for reflective reading and preparation of questions.

Content

• Policy formulation in relation to the arts
• Measuring the value of arts and cultural products and services
• Political context of arts policy formulation
• Sustaining the arts as Industry
• Specific areas of policy interest developed by student enquiry

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Seminar Presentation (Individual)

Assessment item 2: Draft paper (Individual)

Assessment item 3: Final paper presentation (Individual)