Arts and Festivals Management BA (Hons)

UCAS course code: N820

Duration: Three years full-time/six years part-time

Institution code: D26

A levels: Normally 260 UCAS points from at least two full A levels, including at least one grade B or equivalent.

BTEC National Diploma: Distinction/Merit/Merit

You must also have five GCSEs grades A–C including English Language or Literature at grade C or above. We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GSCEs including English at grade C or above.

International Baccalaureate: 28+ points

Access: Pass

Interview required: Yes

International Students

If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English language tuition| is available at DMU both before and during the course if required.

Typically, a module will consist of a one hour lecture, and a one hour seminar. For 30 credit modules these will take place weekly. It is expected that each 30 credit module will require a total study time of ten hours per week; of which eight hours per module will be individual guided work.

Assessment is a combination of practice based assignments, such as case study presentation, group work and practical exercises, and academic assignments which will include essays, reports, exams and a final year dissertation.

Placements at second and third year are an integral part of the practical  experience that our degree provides. They give you valuable experience of working in the sector, significantly enhancing your CV and opening doors through the contacts you make in the process. As a direct result of their placements we often find that students are offered employment in their desired fields.

The Arts and Festivals Management staff combine a solid foundation in industry and education with significant international experience and research profiles with national bodies such as the British Arts Festivals Association and Arts Council England. The core staff team have professional backgrounds in directing arts festivals, theatres and arts centres, cultural policy, art, visual culture and heritage, the music industry, marketing and audience development, arts programming, management, regeneration and artist support projects.

In addition, this degree benefits from input by a broad range of arts practitioners such as music industry specialists, promoters and a variety of other specialists as visiting lecturers.

Arts and Festivals Management has a wide range of close industry contacts such as Festival Republic (organisers of the Latitude, Big Chill, Leeds and Reading festivals), Leicester Comedy Festival, De Montfort Hall, the 2012 Cultural Olympiad and many other national and international organisations. These professional links provide a challenging and stimulating environment for our students.

You will have the opportunity to engage with different cultural products throughout the course, through running and promoting a festival venue in the first year and practical placements in the second and third years to an international project involving a week-long visit to Amsterdam. In addition, third year Arts and Festivals Management students organise and deliver the high profile DMU arts festival Cultural Exchanges.

There are many career opportunities open to our graduates. You might work in a building-based arts organisation. For example our graduate Hayley White is now director of Hoxton Hall in London. You may be more interested in working in a freelance capacity, perhaps staging one-off events or festivals like our graduate Gareth Hughes who has set up his own successful events management company, or working for a large festival organisation as Laura Hellard did with Glastonbury.

You might want to be involved with developing and implementing policy on a strategic level like our graduate Katie Smith who was appointed events co-ordinator for the Culture Company, helping to deliver the programme for Liverpool ‘08 Capital of Culture. The diverse opportunities that will be open to you on graduation do have one thing in common: they demonstrate that our graduates are desirable professionals who are successfully meeting the challenges of a dynamic sector.

2012 entry
UK/EU Fees:  £9000 per year
International Fees: £10,250 per year 

Learn more about fees and funding information 2012| 

2013 entry
UK/EU Fees: TBC
International Fees:  TBC 

Learn more about fees and funding information 2013|

Learn more about our Undergraduate scholarships and awards| information.

As well as all the facilities you would expect we have a dedicated resources room with access to phone, computers and printers from where the various practical projects can be planned and delivered.

Apply through UCAS at www.ucas.com| 

Arts and Festivals Management students have the exciting opportunity to run Cultural Exchanges| – a week-long festival of performances, discussions, debates and exhibitions that allows students of all years to actively participate in events management, providing you with the practical skills to significantly enhance your employment prospects. Previous guests have included Germaine Greer, Alan Moore, Trevor Nelson, Ken Loach, Michael Billington, Honor Blackman, Meera Syal, Billy Bragg, Alastair Campbell, Sue Townsend, Bonnie Greer, Grayson Perry and Matthew Bourne.

“Three invaluable years of practical projects, stimulating placements and fascinating theory. I was introduced to new art forms and approaches to team work and my thinking was stretched. The degree allowed me to enter the field of arts management well prepared to negotiate the ever-changing external environment we’re all working in as an accountant, lawyer, leader and manager of change. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

Matthew Russell, BA (Hons) Arts Management now Executive Director – Palace Theatre, Watford