Course details and modules
In this Masters course you’ll study a range of compulsory core and optional modules offered by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies and the School of Performance and Cultural Industries. You’ll then have the opportunity to choose from a dissertation, or a practice-led dissertation.
In the core module Interpretations, you will work on a digital interpretive intervention. This experience prepares you for the option of undertaking a negotiated work placement or optional modules exploring audiences, participation or engagement in semester two. Read about exhibitions and activities curated by our students.
In the second core module Critical Issues, you are supported to locate interpretive, conservation, curatorial or marketing practices in the context of current academic and professional debates. Through a number of tailored strands – covering topics such as contemporary art, heritage, and curating science and technology – you will develop your own mini-research project which prepares you for your dissertation.
The optional module Placements in Context: Policy, Organisations and Practice supports you to deliver a collaborative group project responding to a brief set by one of our many gallery, museum and heritage partners. The project you take part in will directly impact the organisation and their work. You’ll also gain crucial insight into employment in the sector. We work with a range of organisations in Leeds and beyond to develop the projects, and previous collaborations have been with the National Science and Media Museum, Leeds Museums and Galleries, Yorkshire Contemporary, and Hyde Park Picture House.
You'll also study a core module and have the choice of optional modules run by the School of Performance and Cultural Industries:
In the core module Arts Management and Cultural Leadership, you'll examine theoretical concepts in the emerging field of arts management and the challenges faced by arts managers and cultural leaders. Dialogue with our arts and cultural partners will give an insight into the exciting possibilities opened up by bringing theory and practice together. You can build on this work and specialise in your own areas of interest, through optional modules that explore a variety of key issues, such as audience engagement and impact, cultural entrepreneurship, and contemporary cultural strategies, technologies and media.
The optional module Cultural Participation and Participatory Cultures, allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the participation agenda which is of growing international importance. You will better understand the role of cultural participation in society, as well as develop approaches to using techniques from cultural participation to bring about social change. You'll evaluate and analyse case studies of practice from within the cultural sector and develop your own participatory action.
You'll also be able to choose from a range of optional modules offered by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies and the School of Performance and Cultural Industries. Through optional modules, you could also have the opportunity to complete placement or consultancy activities in arts management or heritage. Previous students have undertaken work placement projects focused on collections, digitisation work, digital interpretation and community engagement.
Your dissertation is an opportunity to develop your research and build on the knowledge you've gained. You can either choose a standard route or develop a practice-led dissertation project, where you combine practical work with critical reflective writing.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.
For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Arts Management and Heritage Studies MA Full Time in the course catalogue
For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Arts Management and Heritage Studies MA Part Time in the course catalogue
Year 1 compulsory modules
| Module Name |
Credits |
|
Module Name
Interpretations
|
Credits
15
|
|
Module Name
Critical Issues
|
Credits
15
|
|
Module Name
Arts Management and Cultural Leadership
|
Credits
30
|
Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
You'll be required to study one of the following modules: MA Dissertation OR MA Practice-led Dissertation, plus optional modules.
| Module Name |
Credits |
|
Module Name
Derrida and Deconstruction
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Jewish Museums and the Display of Cultural Difference
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Unfinished Business: Trauma, Cultural Memory and the Holocaust
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Aesthetics and Politics
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Art, Ecology and Empire
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Intersecting Practices: Questioning the Intersection of Contemporary Art and Heritage
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Adventures in the Archive
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Postcolonial Feminisms
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Art & Money: the modern and contemporary art markets
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Art of the Silk Roads
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Anthropology, Art and Representation
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Humanity, Animality and Globality
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Unmaking Things: Materials and Ideas in the European Renaissance
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
The Cultural Politics of Artificial Intelligence
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Placements in Context: Policy, Organizations and Practice
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
History & Theory of Modern Science Communication
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Creative Work
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Performance and Collaborative Enterprise
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Critical Debates in Culture and Place
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Audience, Engagement and Impact
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Cultural Participation and Participatory Cultures
|
Credits
30
|
|
Module Name
Sustainable Development in Arts and Culture
|
Credits
30
|
Learning and teaching
Learning from leading researchers and experienced practitioners, you’ll benefit from a range of teaching and learning methods. This will include lectures, seminars and group learning, and you’ll also gain insights into specific collections through museum, archive and library sessions.
You'll learn from practical experience on projects alongside fellow students and professionals. A wide variety of external speakers will give you an insight into contemporary practice in the field. You'll also learn to use digital technologies and resources relevant to the museum and gallery sector.
Independent study is an important element of the degree, allowing you to develop your research and critical skills. The University Library offers free classes and resources on topics such as academic integrity and plagiarism, public speaking, searching for information and structuring essays.
On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
Depending on the modules you choose, you may experience a range of different assessment methods. These usually include essays, individual and group presentations, digital interpretation projects, portfolio building, in-course assessment and project work. You may also be asked to complete a reflective log for your projects, allowing you to look back and critically assess your own practice.
