Tuition Fee
£7,200 (EU)
£12,500 (INTERNATIONAL)
$18,125 (US)
Programme Overview
Would you like to be an arts or cultural manager and play an important role in helping works of art in a museum or gallery come alive? This MA programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to do just that, equipping you to become an expert in visual culture.
Taught in one of the world’s cultural capitals, at our campus in Kensington, central London, our students benefit from being so close to Kensington Palace, Royal Albert Hall, Victoria and Albert Museum, Saatchi Gallery and many more art galleries and institutions. The inspiration provided by world-class art galleries, museums, libraries and art institutions really does breathe life into art.
Study one Master’s programme and you’ll gain two degrees, one from the UK and one from the US. This programme can be taken in one year full-time or over two years, part-time.
This MA is unique as it straddles the publicly funded (Not for Profit) and commercial visual arts sector. It will equip you with the professional skills and experience to work successfully in a variety of arts and cultural industries.
Our core modules balance theory and practice, beginning with an exploration of research methods, which are vital for any career in the cultural world; at Richmond, you’ll be considered as a junior research colleague. You’ll go on to study arts policy and visual arts management and marketing, where you’ll learn how museums, galleries, auction houses, creative start-ups, collectors and funders operate in today’s increasingly global art world.
During the second semester, the focus will be on curating, as you develop the skills needed to curate a range of art and design objects for both public and private collections. Through our module on Art Education you’ll explore the various methods of teaching art, using a combination of artistic materials, assessment methods and education techniques. Finally, you’ll learn about the fascinatingly diverse international art market.
You will be encouraged to participate in a range of exhibition openings, networking events, artist talks, festivals and conferences. Many classes are taught externally in museums and galleries, and students leave with extensive contacts from which they can develop and expand their own professional network.
You’ll have the choice in the final semester of doing either an internship with a dissertation or an extended research project, both great opportunities to provide hands-on experience to increase your employability.
Optional Accredited Internship
The optional accredited Internship integrates theory with practice. Students will be challenged to relate classroom situations to the workplace, make contacts which may prove valuable to their future employment prospects, and gain confidence in their capabilities, creativity and communication skills. It will provide you with the opportunity to use skills learned on the programme in a real world setting.
Top 5 Reasons to study Visual Arts Management & Curating:
- Gain in-depth knowledge of visual arts management and curating which will equip you for a career in the creative and cultural industries
- Studying in central London, one of the world’s top cultural centres, provides inspirational setting for this programme
- Benefit from small classes (average 10–15 students) and academic support from faculty engaged in leading research and professional practice in the art industry
- The ability to learn first-hand by frequent on-site visits to the world’s most prestigious museums, galleries and art exhibitions
- Benefit from an integrated internship that will allow you to apply what you have learned in a real-world workplace setting
Modules Breakdown
Core Modules & Electives
Fall Semester (12 Credits) |
Research Methods |
Arts Policy |
Visual Arts Management and Marketing |
Spring Semester (12 Credits) |
Curating |
Art Education and the Gallery |
International Art Market |
Summer Semester (12 credits) |
Internship with dissertation |
OR |
Extended Thesis Research |
* subject to availability |
Module Descriptions
Research Methods
Introduces students to the process of research, including the ability to work from libraries, exhibitions and institutional archives, and developing skills in visual literacy and academic writing. Students are encouraged to develop independence of thought by discovering, evaluating and making appropriate use of a wide range of approaches to research and writing. This course assists students with the identification of their own interests as they move towards choosing a topic for the professional research project.
Arts Management and Marketing
Equips students with the management skills — planning, organising, staffing, supervision and controlling — necessary to facilitate the production and presentation of the visual arts to audiences. The course will address strategic planning, finance management, fund-raising, marketing and communication. Students will consider the vision, mission and values — alongside the aims and objectives — of a number of specific international arts organisations.
Arts Policy
Aims to give students an understanding of the structure of arts policy in the UK and the USA, as well as on an international level. The course will explore the history of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Arts Council and the British Council, in the UK and the National Endowment for the Arts in the USA, making comparisons between the two. Students will be asked to critically engage with different political agendas and how they have impacted arts organisations and the creative industries. Current debate around the instrumentalisation of the arts as social and economic processes will be discussed, alongside questions about how the value of art to society can be evaluated and measured – questions which are central to public policy formation.
Curating
Equips students with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge necessary for makingexhibitions in a museum or gallery. The course will trace the history of curating from the Salons in Paris through key exhibitions produced by the avant-gardes in the 20th century. Students will become familiar with current topics in curating, including the concept of the ‘universal’ museum, the ‘artist as curator’, new institutionalism and the ‘educational turn’ in curating, alongside issues to do with museum collections, including the ethics of ownership. Students will also explore practical aspects of curating, such as transport, insurance, installation and object-handling. The
course will make use of London’s many arts institutions.
Art Education
Engages students with current discourse on the educative, social and regenerative potential of the arts, and how these potentials are activated in museum programming and public policy. Students will explore the practical application of learning theories in the gallery; access, outreach and audience development in the museum and case studies of the success and failure of the arts as instruments of urban renewal, both through capital projects and community engagement. As well as studying local and international contexts, the course will draw upon case examples of regional museums and galleries in the UK.
International Art Market
Provides students with an overview of the international art market, including its history and current dynamics. Specific attention will be paid to emerging markets in China, Russia, India and the Middle East. The course analyses the structure, theory and practice of the constituent components of the ‘for-profit’ arts sector, including commercial galleries, auction houses, art fairs and consultancy organisations. Qualitative and quantitative research methods for art business and investment will be discussed.
Professional Research Project
For students working independently on their Masters professional research project. The professional research project (10,000-12,000 words) encourages students to study intensively a topic agreed with a supervisor, and so develop skills and experience which can be applied in work placements or further graduate work. Students apply their knowledge from across the fall and spring semesters to researching a topic on visual arts management and curating, which may relate to the internship. This course is comprised of intensive and regular meetings on a group and one-to-one (by appointment) basis with a project supervisor to discuss the progress of research, development and writing.
Extended Professional Research Project
For students working independently on their Masters professional research project. An extended project equivalent to a 15,000 word thesis is offered as an alternative to the optional internship. The professional research project encourages students to study intensively a topic agreed with a supervisor, and so develop skills and experience which can be applied in work placements or further graduate work. Students apply their knowledge from across the autumn and spring semesters to researching a topic on visual arts management and curating, which may relate to their work experience. This course is comprised of intensive and regular meetings on a one-to-one (by appointment) basis with a project supervisor to discuss the progress of research, development and writing.
Internship
A part-time work placement within an organization to enable students to participate in graduate level experiential learning and so develop hands-on skills and professional experience which will prepare them for work in a range of arts and creative cultural industries (depending on the requirements of the organization in question, a minimum of 200 hours). Placements are supervised, career-related work experiences combined with reflective, academic study that help students ‘learn by doing’. During the internship, the staff of the Internship Office and a faculty supervisor work closely with each student and the organization to ensure that the placement is a successful one.
Entry Requirements
A first degree in any discipline with a minimum classification of 2.2 (Lower Second Class Honours) or its international equivalent
English Language Requirements (Non Native English Speakers)
Qualification | Postgraduate | Validity Period |
IELTS (Academic) | 6.0 with 5.5 in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing | 2 Years |
TOEFL IBT | 80 with 19 Listening, 20 in Reading, 19 Writing, 22 Speaking | 2 Years |
Pearson Test of English | 60 with 51 in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing | 2 Years |
First, Advanced, Proficiency – taken after January 2015 | 169 overall (no less than 162 in each component) | No Expiry |
Cambridge First: Advantage, Proficiency – taken before January 2015 | Cambridge First: Grade A (no less than A in any component) | No Expiry |
Cambridge Advanced: Grade C (no less than C in any component) | No Expiry |
|
Cambridge Proficiency: Level C1 Certificate (no less than C1 in any component) | No Expiry |
Research-led teaching from the IVAC (The Centre for International Visual Arts and Cultures)
All MA Art History and Visual Culture and MA Visual Arts Management and Curating students, and members of the Art Appreciation Society are automatically entitled to membership of the IVAC free of charge. Richmond students enrolled on other Masters programmes and undergraduates with an interest in the visual arts are welcome to all IVAC events free of charge.
Programme Fact Sheet
Useful Links
Dr Robert J. Wallis
Professor of Visual Culture, Associate Dean of MA Programmes
Richmond UniversityWhat our students say…
“The MA in Visual Arts Management and Curating at Richmond was an amazing experience. The Professors were incredibly approachable and engaging, they allowed me to pursue my own ideas while providing guidance and support that proved instrumental in my research. The course work was interesting and challenging and provided a very international scope of the many different facets of the art world.
The campus is located near some of the best museums in London, and many courses included meetings with key members of museum and gallery staffs. These trips were some of my favorite experiences as they provided insight into the structure and inner workings of museums and galleries, and were a chance to apply what we learned about in class in an interactive environment. The program helped me find an internship at a contemporary art gallery in London which turned into a full time position after completing my MA. I am now planning on doing a PhD in cultural heritage stability in the near future, something I know I would not have considered if not for the support and advice of my Richmond professors.”
“When I decided to switch career paths to the arts, I knew I wanted to attend an institution located in a city where I would have access to world class art. Richmond University has exceeded my expectations in that not only did I experience London, I was able to learn and visit arts organizations across the UK and Europe. The flexibility within our assignments allowed me to explore my interests while also challenging me to expand my knowledge about the art world. My connections with professors, guest speakers, and classmates, have resulted in lifelong colleagues and friends.”
“The graduate experience at Richmond proved vital for my success as an art historian and museum professional. The MA in Art History and Visual Culture programme places students on the pulse of the art world, ensuring that they have access to premier institutions, world-renowned museum collections, and highly anticipated exhibitions. Graduate students are encouraged to participate in critical analysis and discussion with professors and peers, resulting in a positive and respectful learning environment.
While at Richmond, I obtained an internship with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Conservation, which solidified my interest in collections management. I had a central role in documenting historic collections at five properties across the southeastern United Kingdom, including Ham House and Gardens, Rainham Manor, Red House, Two Willow Road, and Fenton House and Gardens. Through my internship and the Richmond community, I now have professional connections around the world.
Since graduating, I have become the Registrar for Collections at the Arkansas Arts Center. I have also been invited to speak at the annual American Alliance of Museums conference about my role in the museum.”
Where to find us
Kensington Campus
1 St. Alban’s Grove
London
W8 5PN
England
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7368 8500
