MA in Responsible Arts Management and Cultural Heritage

The M.A. in Responsible Arts Management and Cultural Heritage leverages the best practices of in-class, online and on-site learning. Courses taught on the Franklin campus address contemporary managerial topics, are taught seminar-style in small groups, involve diverse international students from a variety of backgrounds and are delivered by experts with years of managerial experience. The online courses cover the latest, most relevant and most-applicable topics students can study and are designed and taught by industry leaders who work at organizations such as Google, the United Nations, Amazon and many others. The practical experiences give students the opportunity to work and network in an international organization. Working on actual projects, students get the knowledge, experience and credentials to launch into the next phase of their careers.

The Master is made of 3 main blocks:

1. Leadership and Management (Fall – August to December, Lugano)

   During this term students will learn leadership and management in a participative and collaborative setting. The pace of this term is intense, and the experience provides the foundation for transformation. At the end of the term students will begin to be empowered as change agents. Faculty and instructors, many who are pioneers in their spheres of competence, share their expertise with students.

2. Knowledge and Skills for Employment (Spring – January to May, Lugano)

   In the spring term, students will deepen their expertise in collaboration, project management and self-management. This term is built in collaboration with partner institutions and will allow students to develop the skills necessary to be competitive in their fields. Students will join live conferences and network with experts and professionals from international organizations.

3. Experiential In-Organization Learning (Summer – May to July, On-Location)

   Students will join project teams at partner institutions and gain hands-on experience. Students will be challenged and trained to work on real ongoing projects sponsored by international organizations and businesses.

Course structure for M.A. in Responsible Arts Management and Cultural Heritage

The program is divided into a Common Core and the Responsible Arts Management and Cultural Heritage dedicated Learning Portfolio. The participative and collaborative curriculum of the Common Core is designed to provide students with a strong background in leadership, marketing, finance, project management, and other elements of business through the lens of sustainability, ethics and responsible management. The dedicated Learning Portfolio includes selected sessions and classes, experiential learning through travel and project-based work, consisting in five modules:

• Module 1: one-week Consulting Management for the Arts Module, introducing students to the consulting profession, techniques and methods - in Mumbai, India
• Module 2: ten-day Performing and Visual Arts Management Module, analyzing future trends and organizations working in the performing arts field - in New Delhi, India
• Module 3: five-day International Arts Production Module, observing different cultural institutions engaged in the protection, enhancement and conservation of heritage - in Beijing, China
• Module 4: ten-day Heritage Management Module, focusing on the opportunities and reality of art management and administration - in Milan with the IPAM Study Tour, Italy
• Module 5, Project based learning, Internship and Final Project

Practical Experience

Students will work with coaches and professors on a self-directed program of study, combining online study with practical field experience in arts and cultural heritage host institutions, focusing on consulting methods, art management, administration and specific challenges in the creative, visual and performing arts sector. The learning portfolio includes selected sessions and classes, experiential learning through travel and project-based work, consisting in five modules conducted through travel to India, China and Italy. The agenda touches topics such as leadership, future trends and innovation of cultural institutions, with a collection of case studies and success stories, and firsthand learning in interactions with industry experts and professionals. Students will engage in a combination of field visits, guest lectures and presentation, group discussion and projects, traveling for six weeks between Asia and Europe, a unique journey specifically designed around Asian and Italian art, market peculiarities and cultural environment.

Tuition for the Master of Arts in Responsible Arts Management is paid in Swiss Francs.

See additional estimates for direct and indirect expenses for Master's students

A merit scholarship is available for qualifying students admitted to the Master of Arts in Responsible Arts Management program. See Responsible Leadership Scholarship for details.