Course information

Department

Music
Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship

Length

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Course overview

This programme builds on London's position as one of the most important musical centres in the world, with a diverse range of concert halls, theatres, cultural institutions and arts events that reflect its cosmopolitan and multicultural society.

  • Although professional management practice is a major element of the programme, the 'creative arts event' is the starting point for all teaching.
  • Instead of specialist theatre modules, you take one 30 credit module from the MA Music programme, and your dissertation/placement/business-plan will be directed towards musical organisations.
  • The MA introduces the key issues that concern the management of culture and in particular those within the performing arts.
  • Through both analysis of contemporary and recent practice, and practical work in a range of areas, you will develop a critical approach to the discipline.

The pathway provides an overview of the following areas:

  • arts funding structures in the UK (with reference to European and Scandinavian countries, and others globally)
  • marketing for the arts
  • audience development
  • sponsorship
  • education programmes within the arts
  • programming
  • culture and tourism
  • cultural policy (including the role of the arts in national and cultural identity) and principles and structures of management

The aim of taught modules, projects and placements is to introduce you to new models of practice. These will be investigated and evaluated as a way of developing an understanding of management principles. Through this process, you will also be equipped with the necessary practical skills to enhance your potential as arts administrators.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Gerald Lidstone.

What you'll study

There are many ways of doing this degree part-time. We recommend having a conversation with the programme convenor about how to proceed, and to determine time commitments.

Please see the MA Arts Administration & Cultural Policy term breakdown for full-time and part-time modules.

Modules within ICCE

Module title Credits
Cultural Policy and Practice 30 credits
Introduction to Audience Development n/a
Introduction to Fundraising n/a
Seminar Series & Guest Speakers n/a
Management and Professional Practice 1: Work Placement 30 credits
Management and Professional Practice 2: Business Planning for Arts Organisations 30 credits
MA Arts Administration & Cultural Policy: Dissertation 60 credits

Music Pathway option modules

It is advisable that you have studied a degree in Music, and covered some music theory prior to studying these modules.

Most ICCE students take the Music Management module listed below.

Recent modules have included:

Module title Credits
Contemporary Ethnomusicology 30 credits
Advanced Music Studies 30 credits
Sound Agendas 30 credits
Sources and Resources in the Digital Age 30 credits
Music Management 30 credits
New Directions in Popular Music Research 30 credits
Popular Music and its Critics 30 credits
Philosophies of Music 30 credits

Assessment

The assessment for the specialist music component will be as given in the individual module descriptions.

Download the programme specification.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

What our students say

Angelos Aivazis

"This programme proved to be a vital asset in my involvement in the field of Events Management as well as Music Business"

Angelos is a MA in Arts Administration & Cultural Policy: Music Pathway graduate. He was a Goldsmiths student in the academic year 2011 - 2012. This programme proved to be a vital asset in his later involvement in the field of Events Management as well as Music Business. Since his graduation, he has worked in the field of Marketing for acknowledged agencies (HarrisonParrott - UK) as well as Account Management and Marketing for large ticketing companies in Greece (Viva.gr - GR). From 2015 onwards he has concentrated in the field of performing music, working as a session, touring and recording musician. His latest personal project is called 'Pelion Rivers' and refers to a folk persona who is writing music between travelling destinations. His first video, 'Pixels', was recorded live at an abandoned 20th century station in Central Greece. 

Michael Budiman Mulyadi

"The course and the atmosphere at Goldsmiths nurtured my entrepreneurial spirit and pushed me to embrace DIY culture that is very beneficial for my current work."

With a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, I worked in IBM Corporation as sales and product manager for 6 years doing solution sales and marketing before I enrolled in MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy: Music Pathway in Goldsmiths. The first few months in Goldsmiths opened my eyes to the richness and importance of critical contemporary cultural studies while also confirmed my strong conviction of the inevitable association of arts and business enterprise. The course and the atmosphere at Goldsmiths also nurtured my entrepreneurial spirit and pushed me to embrace DIY culture that is very beneficial for my current work. 

Interning at Stagetext as Digital Research Intern also formed my worldview on the importance of accessibility in the arts and also gave me real experience working in an enterprising arts organization.  Focusing my dissertation on classical music performances in historical churches in Central London, I gained significant insights on placemaking, the relationship of culture, art, and current religious spaces in London while also developing my ability to conduct research and to think critically. By being in London, the epicentre of arts and culture, I managed to develop contacts with many influential figures in the world of arts, compared to when I was in Indonesia.

After graduating in September 2016, I took up a new teaching posts: Lecturer and Coordinator for Arts Management concentration in Universitas Pelita Harapan Conservatory of Music, Music Director for UPH Symphony Orchestra and Orkes Simfoni Universitas Indonesia ‘Mahawaditra’. I also started a new role as Consultant, developing business initiatives, governance and marketing programmes for local arts organisations. In May 2017, Creative Economy Agency of the Republic of Indonesia appoints me to sit as member of their assessment committee and contribute to the building of Creative Economy System through creative cities network initiative.

MIchael is also Founder & Editor-in-Cheif of Musical Promenade, and an Independent Business & Marketing Consultant

Victoria Forsey

" During the MA I focused my dissertation on the cultural education agenda in place in England. The ability to conduct this research in an institution that encourages lateral thinking and reaching beyond the bounds of societal structures, was truly empowering."

As a classically trained singer I came to Goldsmiths unsure of how I would use the MA in a professional manner but soon came to discover that my passion for unlocking the potential increase for audiences and interest in Western Art Music- especially that of Opera, would be best served by committing my coursework and skills to arts education. 

During the MA I focused my dissertation on the cultural education agenda in place in England. The ability to conduct this research in an institution that encourages lateral thinking and reaching beyond the bounds of societal structures, was truly empowering.

I am currently an intern with Saatchi Gallery, assisting with the schools programme. This has been a fantastic opportunity where I have gained the know-how to facilitate learning initiatives for a variety of school ages and learning abilities, in addition to furthering the administrative skills honed during an internship with the prestigious music seminar IMS-Prussia Cove.

See more profiles for this programme

Entry requirements

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a subject concerned with arts and culture or another relevant/related subject. 

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

Students who have completed up to 90 credits (not including final 60-credit projects or dissertations) of a comparable degree at another university can apply for recognition of prior learning status as part of their application for a place on the programme, where such credits are carried forward into your study at Goldsmiths.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

  • Home - full-time: £12520
  • Home - part-time: £6260
  • International - full-time: £22640

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

How to apply

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:

  • Details of your academic qualifications
  • The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
  • Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
  • personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

When to apply

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. 

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification. 

Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.

If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an earlier application deadline. 

Selection process

Admission to many programmes is by interview, unless you live outside the UK. Occasionally, we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.

Find out more about applying.

Careers

This pathway allows you to pursue your interests in music, acting as a supplementary course to the main body of the Arts Administration programme.

Graduates typically go on to careers in the following areas:

  • Cultural policy: researching, developing, writing, analysing and evaluating policy for government agencies at national, regional and local level and for ‘think tanks’ concerned with culture and society
  • Management in building-based and touring theatre, festivals, dance, music, and visual arts organisations
  • Arts education, arts regeneration and arts for social and community purposes, all of which may be music-based
  • Audience development, fundraising, programming and planning
  • Independent producing in music, theatre, or gallery-based organisations

Many students from this programme now have careers in major arts organisations worldwide or have progressed to MPhil/PhD degrees.

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths

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