Tuition Fee
£7,000 (EU)
£12,000 (INTERNATIONAL)
Programme Overview
Richmond University’s MA in Visual Arts Management & Curating equips students with the entrepreneurial knowledge and professional skills required to critically engage with global visual cultures of the twenty-first century and become innovative, creative and resilient leaders in their fields. The programme is taught in our Kensington campus in Central London where our students benefit from studying in close proximity to Kensington Palace, Royal Albert Hall, Victoria and Albert Museum, Saatchi Gallery and many more art galleries and institutions. The close proximity and ease of access to world class art galleries, museums, libraries and art institution is vital to the foundation of this course.
Richmond University’s MA in Visual Arts Management and Curating prepares students in the professional knowledge, skills and experience required for career placement in visual arts institutions and the creative cultural industries. The program is unique in that it straddles the publicly funded (Not for Profit) and commercial visual arts sector with a strong emphasis on education and curation. Students will learn how museums, galleries, auction houses, creative startups, collectors and funders operate in today’s increasingly global art world.
Students in this programme are considered to be junior research colleagues and emerging arts professionals and as such are 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.
Curriculum
This programme offers sustained engagement with the visual arts from intercultural perspective. It trains students in marketing, management, curating and gallery education within a visual arts context.
This programme brings art and design historians, theoreticians, professional practitioners and studio artists together to:
- Offer a thorough grounding in the interdisciplinary, theoretical and methodological issues related to the study of the visual
- Equip students with the professional skills and experience to work successfully in a variety of arts and cultural industries
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. Internships are designed to be both demanding and rewarding. The internship will provide an opportunity to deploy the skills learned on courses in a real world setting, as students produce an assessed record of their experiences.
Top 5 Reasons to study Visual Arts Management & Curating:
- The ability to study in Central London which provides students with a unique intercultural location and engagement with art in London – a hub and a global scene that attracts the best creative talents in the arts and design industries from all over the world
- Benefit from small classes (average 10–15 students), more contact time and full academic support from faculty engaged in leading research 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
- Attain a US accredited degree that increases your employment opportunities internationally
- 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 |
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)
☐ IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing
☐ TOEFL (IBT) 87 overall with: Listening 21, Reading 22, Writing 21, Speaking 23
☐ Pearsons Academic Test of English (PTE) 62
☐ Cambridge English: Proficiency – Level C2 or Level C1
☐ TOEFL (IBT) 87 overall with: Listening 21, Reading 22, Writing 21, Speaking 23
☐ Pearsons Academic Test of English (PTE) 62
☐ Cambridge English: Proficiency – Level C2 or Level C1
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
