Arts and Culture Management

1. Opportunity to study for a year at an Italian university

The Master's Programme 'Arts and Culture Management' at the National Research University Higher School of Economics – St. Petersburg cooperates with Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the largest university in Italy and Europe, which allows students enrolled in our Master's programme to go on an exchange to Italy during their second year of study. The double degree track is implemented in conjunction with the Master's programme 'Methods and Topics in Arts Management' (UCSC) under the guidance of Professor Chiara Paolino, an international researcher in the field of arts and culture management, who also conducts classes for students of the 'Arts and Culture Management' programme of the National Research University Higher School of Economics – St. Petersburg. (news about the double degree programme)

2. Uniqueness

'Arts and Culture Management' is a unique master’s programme that is aimed at training future market leaders in the management of experience industry and creative entrepreneurship. Throughout the programme, students get a comprehensive understanding of the current global trends and business processes required for running creative industries, receive hands-on experience in using top-notch analytical and management tools, as well as learn what it takes to become entrepreneurs in the Experience Industry.

3. Digitalization in business process management

The programme places special attention on teaching cutting-edge digital skills. The master's students learn strategic data management, peculiarities of entrepreneurship in the context of digitalization, digital promotion methods, tools for working with web analytics, as well as modern methods of collecting digital footprints and visualization.

4. Networking and future employment

Working closely with the industry leaders and participating in jointed practical projects, internships, and guest lectures, students 
get a solid advantage when going through job interviews. In the course of internships at well-known companies, students expand their professional network and make connections with potential employers, many of whom often suggest job placements before graduating.

5. Practice-oriented teaching

The learning process is based on solving hands-on case studies and developing individual business projects related to the management of the Experience Industry. The latter is developed by students in collaboration and under the practitioners mentoring.

Guest lectures, workshops, company visits form an integral part of the programme. In addition to that, students get an opportunity to do internships at reputable organizations. Also, during the training students prepare practice-oriented coursework and theses, in which theory-based, tailor-made solutions to the problems of the respective company are developed.

6. Partnerships

The program is supported by government agencies, major museums, theatres, creative clusters and festival directors. For more information, see a full list of partners.

7. Versatile training

The evolvement of modern market trends has led to a growing need for qualified specialists with comprehensive knowledge and a wide range of skills. It is the current market that determines the versatility of the master's programme and its unique tracks (there are courses devoted to analytics, legal aspects related to the Experience Industry).

Also, the programme is aimed at developing an understanding of the nature of a modern cultural process, exploring particularities of classical and modern cultural practices, as well as different forms of art and culture.

8. Unique cultural heritage

Being a cultural capital and occupying a favourable geographical position, St. Petersburg offers a rich socio-cultural environment that facilitates the learning process, as well as the creation of business contacts.

The exclusive Programme provides students with rigorous intensive study in global trends and business processes in arts, culture, and creative industries; strategic data management; management and entrepreneurship in the state of digitalisation; web-analytical instruments; methods of gathering digital footprints and visualisation.

The programme is designed to train:

• Project managers in arts, culture, and creative industries.
• Entrepreneurs prepared to launch and lead creative business projects and startups.
• Curators in the arts, culture and creative industries. In this branch of the programme, we train specialists competent in art and management to shape the creative content and to manage projects.
• Consultants for organisations and projects in arts, culture, and creative industries.

The programme offers one fully English-taught applied track "Arts Management and Curating".  

Students receive the necessary knowledge and skills to work in public and private organisations of art, cultural and creative industries.

The programme is business projects-based. The business projects will be developed by students in collaboration and under the practitioners mentoring. The students will have an opportunity to make an internship at reputable organisations in the industry. Courseworks and theses will be based on real-life business projects. Courses will be built on practical cases and taught by professors and management practitioners from the arts, culture and creative sectors.

The approach allows students to understand the current context and best practices in arts, culture and creative industries management; to focus on particular sectors and topics; to gain access to world-leading experts; to develop valuable professional networks.

The concept of the Master’s programme is based on the educational model of leading European universities and business schools.

The programme provides students with opportunities to enrich the experience on the basis of the wide range of partners:

• Cartier
• The State Hermitage Museum is the key partners of the Programme
• Dostoevsky Literary-Memorial Museum
• The Russian Museum of Ethnography
• Faberge Museum
• Saint Petersburg Manege
• The St. Petersburg Academic Capella
• Planetarium № 1
• Domina St. Petersburg boutique hotel
• Street Art Research Institute
• Northwest Federation of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers
• Street Art Museum
• Gold Union jewelry house
• Centro di Informazioni e Affari di San Pietroburgo
• International Center of Wine and Gastronomy

The graduates of 'Arts and Culture Management' will be in demand on the market of cultural and creative industries for positions of creative directors of organizations, including museums, modern art galleries, cultural tourism organizations, theatres, creative business projects, festivals, art funds, in the sector of management and policy-making in culture, art, cultural tourism, creative industries, and creative entrepreneurship.

The graduates can carry on with their academic careers in Russian and foreign universities

We welcome applications from graduates of bachelor’s programmes who have successfully passed the entrance exams proving their ability to acquire knowledge and skills required within the framework of the master's programme.

The preference is given to applicants who are fluent in English, have scientific publications, as well as possess a scientific aptitude and a motivation to work in the Experience Industry.

Detailed information on the application process for international students is available here.