The Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership is aimed at graduates and professionals who want to play a leading role in shaping the creative and cultural landscape of the future. It builds on over 20 years of experience at UNSW Art & Design in postgraduate education for arts professionals, many of whom are now recognised leaders in the Australian and international cultural field.

The Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership consists of a shared core curriculum, which grounds all students in contemporary art and cultural theory and a pragmatic understanding of the art world, along with key skills in research, writing and professional practice. The curriculum emphasises the transformative impact of new technologies, the dynamic field of Asia Pacific art and design and the diverse and distinctive creativity of Australia.

The program has strong ties with industry and actively supports the development of professional networks and contacts. All students undertake a carefully mentored internship. We work in partnership with Galleries UNSW across the curriculum to provide opportunities for students to produce public exhibitions.

As well as core courses, students choose a specialisation from two Streams:

* Curating: which focuses on contemporary curating as a diverse and dynamic profession, which plays a key role in setting cultural agendas and discovering new ground. The curatorial strand emphasises experimentation and the development of a strong independent practice through curatorial studios and live public projects.

* Cultural Leadership: this includes museum education, policy, management, critical writing, promotion, production and the many new roles emerging in contemporary digital culture. It emphasises the fluid boundaries between all of these activities, and promotes a collaborative approach. This strand fosters a vision of leadership that is diverse and limited by neither age nor status, it educates students to develop a unique individual philosophy underpinned by a robust and flexible skill set.

The Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership provides pathways for both those with backgrounds in museums, galleries, arts organisations, art history and art practice and those who wish to enter curating or cultural leadership from other professional backgrounds. Graduates of the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership are prepared to be independent professionals, able to undertake leadership, research and innovation across a wide range of curating, exhibition, arts policy and management contexts.

The Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership can be taken as a 96 UOC [2 year FT] program, or a 72 UOC [1.5 years FT] program, or a 48 UOC [1 year FT] program, depending on the background of the entering student.

Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership taken as a 96 UOC program [normally over 2 years full time or 4 years part time]

Core

Specialisation Courses

Open Electives

Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership taken as a 72 UOC program [normally over 1.5 years full time or 3 years part time]

Core

Specialisation Courses

Open Electives

Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership taken as a 48 UOC program [normally over 1.0 years full time or 2 years part time]

Core

Specialisation Courses

Open Electives

The Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership requires completion of 96 UOC (normally 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time) including:

Prior qualifications or prior learning allow entry with advanced standing, allowing completion of either 72 UOC or 48 UOC in total, made up of either 24 UOC in Core courses, 18 UOC in approved specialisation courses and 6 UOC in electives or 36 UOC in Core courses, 30 UOC in approved specialisation courses and 6 UOC in electives

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

ARTHFS Curating

ARTHGS Cultural Leadership

Depending on the level and nature of prior qualifications, admission to the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership makes provision for three entry points with different amounts of advanced standing.

Related fields include Art History, Art Theory, Art Curating, Art Education, Museum and/or Heritage Studies, Cultural Heritage Materials Conservation, Design Education.

Applicants who apply with a bachelors degree completed more than 10 years ago can be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Cultural Leadership where they have 5 or more years professional experience in a curatorial, gallery or arts administration field since graduation. They can articulate up to the MCCL if they hold a credit average in their courses taken under the Graduate Certificate.

Applicants without a Bachelors degree may be admitted to the Graduate Certificate on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director, on the basis of professional experience. The student may articulate up to the Graduate Diploma and Masters if they hold a credit average in their courses taken under the Graduate Certificate.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Consideration of RPL, including industry experience, will be relevant for:

a) entry into the program without a Bachelors degree; and

b) entry with a Bachelors degree awarded more than 10 years prior to proposed year of commencement.

Verified industry experience will include a written statement of service from an employer, client or commissioning agent verifying the position, role, responsibilities, duration and/or project outcomes of employment, service contract or other professional arts engagement.

Students who have completed the requirements for the Graduate Certificate or Diploma in Curating and Cultural Leadership with a credit average are eligible for admission to the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership with full credit for courses already completed.

Students who wish to exit the Masters program early may nominate to transfer to and graduate from the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma provided the requirements for the program have been met.

Alumni are working in prominent curatorial, arts administration and policy positions in government, public and commercial galleries, the not-for-profit gallery and museum sector, and consultancies. Students may also consider applying for Masters by Research or PhD programs.