BACHELOR of FINE ARTS
ARTS AND CULTURAL MANAGEMENT MAJOR
Meet us at the intersection of business and the arts. Music, theatre and dance; art galleries and museums; heritage conservation and the literary arts—if you are passionate about promoting arts and culture in the community, this major is for you.
Our award-winning faculty, who are both scholars and practitioners, prepare you to lead and manage—yourself or others—in the creative sector. In this hands-on program, you participate in community-engaged learning activities, which include eight weeks of work in the field.
What to expect
In the Arts and Cultural Management major, you learn the foundational skills you need to successfully lead and manage an arts or cultural organization (or an individual artist's career). You are immersed in core aspects of arts and cultural management, as well as in specialized and customized aspects of the business.
The program focuses on the unique and innovative settings inherent in arts and cultural organizations, with business and management courses adapted specifically for the sector by incorporating information on topics such as non-profit accounting practices, human resource management that includes boards and volunteers, and case studies that focus on non-profit management. Using an experiential learning approach, you participate in community-engaged course work, independent study, internal Allard Hall practicum work and a capstone eight-week Work Integrated Learning course.
Practicum
Every student completes a six-credit, eight-week field placement in an arts and cultural organization either in Canada or abroad.
You take the lead in searching for and securing your field placement with guidance from a faculty advisor. Through this work-integrated learning course, you learn job search techniques, match your career aspirations with real-life opportunities, practice interviewing and prepare a resumé and portfolio.
Student placements often take place at local well-known organizations, such as the Citadel Theatre, the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival and the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. Many community-based volunteer galleries, festivals and events across Alberta rely on MacEwan University placement students to assist with annual events. Further afield, our students have completed field placements in British Columbia, Quebec and Scotland.
International students must have a co-op work permit before starting field placement, clinical practice or practicum. A co-op work permit is different from your study permit; it is an additional permit that authorizes international students to participate in work that is integral to their program of study. If you will be working with vulnerable populations in a health, community or medical field, you will need an up-to-date medical exam by an IRCC-approved panel physician before applying for a co-op work permit.
Ask MacEwan International about the documents you need to have to apply. You should apply for a co-op work permit 4-6 months before the start of your field placement, clinical practice or practicum as current IRCC processing times are lengthy.
Online study
If you live outside of Edmonton or are working and are unable to attend in-person classes, the Arts and Cultural Management major is offered through online study, meaning you can complete your entire degree through online classes.
If you decide to exit the program after the second year (60 credits), you receive a diploma credential.